2020-06-25_REVISION - C1981019 (6)

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RULE 2 PERMITS Aquatic Biolou Colowyo's permit area contains portions of Good Spring Creek along the eastern edge of the permit boundary. The CPW has classified Good Spring Creek as a non-fishery stream, although it has been assumed that species such as Black Bullheads, Creek Chubs, Fannelmouth and White Suckers, Flathead Minnows, and Red Shiners are likely to be present. The Wilson reservoir is located in the extreme northeast corner of the permit area adjacent to State Highway #13. The reservoir has been stocked regularly in the past with rainbow trout by the CPW and probably contains about 75% of that species. Other species in the reservoir are Black Bullheads, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. Good Spring Creek and the Wilson Reservoir will not be disturbed by the mining operation; therefore, no analysis on the potential fisheries population or benthic fauna has been done. Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species Numerous data sources were utilized to evaluate threatened and endangered species potentially occurring within the permit area. In 2020, the USFWS information for planning and consultation (IPaQ query tool was utilized to evaluate habitat and known species distributions specific to the Colowyo permit area. Further, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) county tracking lists(Rio Blanco and Moffat Counties)were reviewed to more broadly identify any threatened and endangered species potentially occurring within the vicinity of the permit area. The IPaC query (the most site-specific information tool available) only identified two bird and four fish species potentially occurring in the vicinity, not necessarily within or near Colowyo's permit area. The two bird species are the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) and the yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). The four fish species are bonytail chub (Gila elegans), Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha), and the razorback sucker(Xyrauchen texanus). The CNHP county tracking lists provide an up-to-date and complete list of fish and wildlife species with federal and/or state designated special status protections. The federal endangered list includes the bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker, and the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). The federal threatened list includes the Mexican spotted owl, yellow- billed cuckoo, and the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). The state endangered list includes the Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas), bonytail chub, razorback sucker, black-footed ferret, Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), and the wolverine(Gulo gulo). The state threatened list includes the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), Colorado pikeminnow, and the humpback chub. The willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) is designated federally as partial statues, with no state status. The common name/ scientific name, status, habitat and potential for occurrence of threatened and endangered fish, wildlife, and plant species within the permit area are presented on Table 2.04.11-14. Most Colorado records of the federally threatened Mexican spotted owl are in the southern portion of the state where deep, rocky canyons provide breeding habitat, and in some forests along the Front Range. Designated federal critical habitat in Colorado occurs only in the central portion of the state, along parts of the Front Range. The species is unlikely to occur in the permit area area Rule 2 Permits 2.04-67 Revision Date: 6/22/20 Revision No.: MR-220