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R,fie Gravel Pit #1 Maich 201'1 <br /> Flowering Plants: Debeque phacelia is limited to arid badland exposures of Wasatch <br /> formation; there is no such habitat within the project area or surrounding vicinity, and no <br /> potential for this project to affect the phacelia. The project area does contain low-elevation <br /> open wet meadows that constitute potential habitat for Ute ladies-tresses orchid. The <br /> nearest known populations of the orchid are located in the Roaring Fork Valley in the vicinity <br /> of the Iron Bridge neighborhood of Glenwood Springs, approximately 30 miles upstream <br /> from the project. Repeated surveys of suitable orchid habitat in the Colorado River valley <br /> have failed to locate any orchid populations outside the Roaring Fork, therefore it is unlikely <br /> that the species would occur on the project location. However according to the interim <br /> survey guidelines (USFWS, 1992)the portions of the property that consist of wet meadows <br /> that are not continuously inundated and not dominated by cattails/bulrush/reedgrass do <br /> constitute potential habitat. These areas of potential habitat are limited to portions of the pit <br /> on the western side. There is no suitable habitat within the initial development area of <br /> Stages 1-2 and the dewatering pipeline. <br /> Orchid presence/absence surveys can only be conducted during the blooming season (late <br /> July through August). Given the existing database of negative survey findings in the <br /> surrounding area and the absence of habitat in the initial development areas, SGM <br /> proposes to evaluate habitat suitability within the western portions of the property at a micro- <br /> site scale during the proposed quarterly wetland monitoring. Areas that are identified as <br /> highly suitable based on the USFWS interim guidelines would be further evaluated during <br /> the blooming season for the presence of orchids. No disturbance to suitable habitat would <br /> occur prior to such a habitat suitability analysis, in concert with a formal orchid survey if <br /> warranted. <br /> 9.2.1 Colorado River Endangered Fish <br /> The USFWS identified the bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and the <br /> razorback sucker for potential impacts from this project. These species occur in lower <br /> elevation, larger rivers, including the Colorado River in the vicinity of Rifle, immediately <br /> downstream of the Project. The project will be complying with a CDPHE Stormwater Permit, <br /> CDPHE Dewatering Permit, and ACOE Nationwide Permits 39 and 7 as part of the project. <br /> No work is proposed within natural hydrologic features tributary to the Colorado River, or <br /> within the Colorado River itself. Given there will be no direct or indirect impacts to occupied <br /> habitats or these species, this project will have No Effect on these species, and No Effect to <br /> Critical Habitats. <br /> 9.2.2 Greenback cutthroat trout <br /> No habitat exists on the property or in the adjacent Colorado River for native cutthroat trout <br /> In addition, no work is proposed within the channel of the Colorado River or any natural <br /> tributaries. Therefore, no direct impacts would result from this project. USFWS lists these <br /> species as potentially impacted due to the presence of occupied habitat downstream from <br /> the Parcel, and the potential for indirect impacts to water quality via water depletions. <br /> Potential indirect impacts would include water depletions or water quality degradation in <br /> potential or occupied habitat. However, the dewatering discharge will need to comply with <br /> the dewatering water quality standards and also require monitoring to ensure there aren't <br /> exceedances of the parameters that protect the river species. <br /> 35 <br />