2020-12-08_REVISION - M2008078 (23)

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ERC West Farm Pit Expansion Project Site Threatened-Endangered Species and General Wildlife Screening • Liberty Complex in Baca County. In October 2014, 40 ferrets were released on the Liberty Complex, Baca County, Colorado. The Liberty Complex is made up of 2 private landowners, covering —1,500 acres. Plague management dusting began in 2015 though it appeared that a plague outbreak had already begun, reducing the active BTPD complex to just under 50 acres by 2016. Plague vaccine was applied at the site beginning in 2017. The colony has begun the slow recovery process, increasing in —230 acres in Fall 2018. As of 2018, a total of 60 ferrets have been released at the site. Spotlight surveys at the Liberty complex have documented wild born kits. Surveys and plague management at the site have been a cooperative effort, including personnel from CPW, USFWS, NRCS, and others (CPW 2019). • South Holly Complex in Prowers County. In November 2015, 15 ferrets were released on the South Holly Complex, Prowers County, Colorado. The South Holly Complex is made up of 3 private ranches covering over 2,500 acres. Plague was documented at South Holly in 2016, reducing the active BTPD acres to a low of-200. Plague management dusting began in 2016 and plague vaccine was added in 2017. The colony has begun the slow recovery process, increasing in —300 acres in Fall 2018. As of 2018, 28 ferrets have been released at the site. A juvenile ferret carcass was found during dusting efforts in the summer of 2017. Surveys and plague management at the site have been a cooperative effort, including personnel from CPW, USFWS, NRCS,and others (CPW 2019) • Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Adams County. In October 2015, 32 ferrets were released on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge,Adams County, Colorado. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal is owned and operated by the USFWS and that agency has taken the lead on the release and management of ferrets at the site. The site contains —3,000 acres of active prairie dogs and USFWS manages plague with both dust and plague vaccine. With additional releases in 2016 and good wild reproduction, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal has the potential to become a source for wild-to-wild translocations in 2018. This release site has received a great deal of positive media and public attention, which increases the interest in ferret reintroductions throughout the state (CPW 2019). Two release sites are recorded within Prowers County.The North Holly Complex and South Holly Complex are located approximately 22 miles northwest of the survey area. As of 2018, active black-footed ferrets have been documented at the two release sites(CPW 2019). Due to the information provided above,the black-footed ferret is not likely to be present within the survey area. Therefore, disturbance to habitat within the survey area should not adversely affect the black- footed ferret. LEAST TERN (STERNA ANTILLARUM) The least tern is listed as federally endangered under the ESA.The least tern range is typically along coasts and major rivers in North America, Central America, and in the Caribbean. The least tern forages in streams, reservoirs, marshes and other impounded wetlands. In Colorado, the least tern nests on sandy shores of reservoirs and gravel pits which can be found in the Arkansas and South Platte River Valleys (CPW 2020b). Sandbars, particularly along the Arkansas River, represent potential habitat. However, although sandbars and shorelines exist within the Arkansas River, it is not isolated enough from shorelines that would serve as nesting sites. • There are historical occurrences in Prowers County(ebird 2020). However,the survey area is located within upland agricultural land and wetlands in the survey area are not typical habitat conducive to 11