2021-02-05_PERMIT FILE - M2020041

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ERC Peak Ranch Resource Aquatic Resource Delineation Report 4.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS 4.1 LANDSCAPE SETTING The survey area is situated within the Southern Rocky Mountains ecoregion (Bailey 1976) at an approximate elevation of 8,235 feet above mean sea level (AMSL) within the Blue River Valley. The Blue River flows north parallel to the western boundary of the survey area and occurs within the survey area boundary in three separate areas for a total of 1,675 linear feet. Overall, the majority of the survey area appears to have been used for agricultural purposes and livestock pastures containing two abandoned residential homes, several agricultural outbuildings, and open agricultural land. The landscape within the survey area is predominantly characterized by the Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe (Comer et al. 2003). Mountain sagebrush habitats are always dominated by mountain big sagebrush (Artemisio tridentate), with a dense grass and herb component. This system shows an affinity for mild topography, fine soils, and some source of moisture in the soil or more mesic sites, zones of higher precipitation and areas of snow accumulation. A smaller percentage of the survey area is characterized by the Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow(Comer et al.2003)vegetation community located in the northeast portion of the survey area. These are high-elevation communities dominated by herbaceous species found on wet sites with very low-gradient surface and subsurface flows. They occur as large meadows in montane or subalpine valleys, as narrow strips bordering ponds, lakes, and streams, and along toeslope steeps. Lastly, the Blue River Corridor occupies a narrow strip of land along the western boundary of the survey area and is characterized as Rocky Mountain Subalpine- Montane Riparian Woodland (Comer et al. 2003). This riparian woodland system is comprised of seasonally flooded forests and woodlands found at montane to subalpine elevations of the Rocky Mountains.This system contains the conifer and aspen woodlands that line montane streams. 4.2 AQUATIC RESOURCES Delineated aquatic resources were classified according to physical and biological characteristics using the Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (Cowardin Classification System) (Cowardin et al. 1979). The Cowardin Classification System was developed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a standardized system to classify or describe wetland habitat types uniformly across the US. Within the survey area, habitat types were classified based on field evaluation. The wetland habitats within the survey that were classified using the Cowardin Classification System are summarized below in Table 1. 1/20/21 5