2020-12-08_REVISION - M2008078 (23)

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ERC West Farm Pit Expansion Project Site Threatened-Endangered Species and General Wildlife Screening *Status key: ST—State listed as threatened SE—State listed as endangered BURROWING OWL(ATHENE CUNICULARIA) The burrowing owl (Owl) is listed as a state threatened species in Colorado. The Owl is small (length of 24 centimeters), long-legged, boldly spotted, and barred with brown and white. The Owl is a breeding species across the plains of eastern Colorado however rarely winters in the state. Nesting habitat is in burrows,especially in both active and inactive prairie dog colonies, located in grasslands, mountain parks, well-drained steppes, deserts, prairies and agricultural lands from late March through October. The Owl can usually be observed on low perches such as fence posts, dirt mounds or the ground. Clutch size of this Owl averages six to seven and incubation lasts up to 30 days. The owlets usually run and forage at 4 weeks and fly at 6 weeks. Primary threats to existence of this species are habitat loss due to intensive agriculture, habitat degradation and fragmentation due to control of burrowing mammals and predation by cats and dogs. • No Owl individuals were observed on or surrounding the survey area.The survey area is located within the overall range of the black-tailed prairie dog; however, no black-tailed prairie dog colonies are located within the survey area. Much of the land within the survey area is regularly tilled and irrigated which further limits the potential use of the survey area by this species. LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN (TYMPANUCHUS PALLIDICINCTUS) The lesser prairie chicken(chicken)is listed as a state threatened species in Colorado. The chicken is small, about the size of a small domestic chicken and are mainly brown in color with rounded tails. Males have a red air sac on the side of their neck that inflates during courtship in the spring. Habitat consists of sandy grasslands along with areas with an abundance of sand sage (Artemisia filifolia) and yucca (Yucca glauca) in southeastern Colorado including Baca, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Prowers counties. Primary threats to existence of this species are habitat loss due to intensive agriculture, habitat degradation and fragmentation. • No chicken individuals were observed on or surrounding the survey area. The survey area is located within cultivated cropland, native prairie has been displaced due to suburban, commercial, and industrial development. Any future land use changes within the survey area should have no effect on the continued existence or potential habitat of this species. PLAINS SHARP-TAILED GROUSE (TYMPANUCHUS PHASIANELLUS JAMESII) The Plains Sharp-Tailed Grouse(grouse) historically occurred on Colorado's eastern grasslands.The grouse is brown with white horizontal barring and a short, pointed tail.The present population consists of several hundred birds in northern Weld County, Colorado and possibly a few birds in Douglas County, Colorado. Grouse habitat is characterized by rolling hills with Gambles oak, sage brush, service berries and grassy glades.This grouse is a resident from Alaska east to the Hudson Bay, and south to northern New Mexico. Typically,the plains grouse occupies medium to tall grasslands for courtship and nesting. • No grouse individuals were observed on or surrounding the survey area however, the mixed grass prairie and upland,shrubland habitat within the survey area does provide potentially suitable habitat for the grouse, although the survey area is located further south than their typical habitat and range. Any future land use changes within the survey area should have no effect on the continued existence or potential habitat of this species. 14