2021-10-29_PERMIT FILE - M2021064 (6)

Home Browse Search

4. Threatened and endangered species potentially impacted: Federally listed species are from the most recent species list from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This discussion includes information from the 2012 USFS environmental assessment of the site. Mountain shrublands are also found here, with small mountain grasslands located at the southern and eastern edges of the parcel and in the former gravel pits. The former abandoned/reclaimed gravel pit located on the parcel is considered to be part of the mountain grassland cover type. Noxious weeds are not common, but scattered Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), bull thistle(Cirsium vulgare),oxeye daisy(Chrysanthemum leucanthemum),and yellow toadflax(Linaria vulgaris)are found in the southwest portion of the parcel.In addition,there is a small stand of leafy spurge(Tithymalus esula var.uralensis) covering approximately 600 square feet located within the disturbance associated with the former gravel pit. The 2 acres of low-quality potential habitat for these species is a very small percentage of the total acreage of habitat available on private and NFS lands in Archuleta County, Bald eagles nest, roost, and perch in large cottonwood trees adjacent and rivers.These types of suitable habitat are found within the San Juan watershed but not on-site.The nearest known nest sites are located well to the southwest of this site in Archuleta County, but this is considered within the winter range of the bird. Mining will not have an effect on these habitat types. Pagosa skyrocket(Ipomopsis polyantha)is a flowering plant known to exist in a very limited area within Archuleta County with Pagosa-Winifred soils derived from Mancos shale;these conditions are not present in the site.There is suitable habitat for Pagosa skyrocket on the site but the habitat is of poor quality and no Pagosa skyrocket has been identified on the site. However,the only known populations of the skyrocket are approximately six miles southeast of the Site. Northern and Botta's pocket gophers use a variety of habitats including pasture land and agricultural fields. Either species could occur in this part of Colorado.The mining could have an effect on pocket gopher habitat if gopher burrows are intersected by earthmoving equipment, but such impact on habitat is unlikely to have an impact on the species due to the limited area being disturbed. Ferruginous hawks may use the watershed area for foraging and to meet other habitat needs.Agricultural areas may be more important to these hawks in the winter.They may use cottonwoods and other tall trees for perches.The value of these habitats for hawks should not be affected by the activities proposed. American peregrine falcons use cliffs and forested areas for breeding habitat.They also use riparian forested areas, grasslands, and agricultural fields in the area for foraging. This site has cliffs, but these cliffs will be mostly left intact by proposed activities. Although much of the forested area on the site will be disturbed by mining,forested areas will be protected in buffer zones and progressive mining will be slow enough to permit relocation by the birds. Mining progressively in small areas, and post-mining reclamation to irrigated agricultural fields should not change the availability of prey species taken by falcons.The end result is that falcon habitat will be maintained with the project. Knowlton's cactus (Pediocactus knowltonii) is the second of of two federally listed plant species under the Endangered Species Act(ESA) of 1973, as amended, are evaluated for actions occurring on NFS lands in Archuleta County. There is no suitable habitat on parcel for Knowlton's cactus.Therefore,this species is dismissed from further analysis, Other species Of the 23 sensitive species identified by USFS Region 2 Regional Ranger and species of concern by the State of Colorado (Colorado Heritage Program), only 2 have suitable habitat on the site. The Pagosa bladderpod (Lesquerella prunosa) are found on Mancos shale soils in grasslands and ponderosa pine/Gambel oak habitat at elevations between 6,800 and 8,000 feet.The Missouri milkvetch(Astragalus missouriensis var.humistratus)are found on flat, shale meadows, including roadsides and other disturbed areas. All four species share similar habitat. Therefore,the operation of Oakbrush Hill Gravel is not likely to adversely affect these species. 5. Assessment of mining impact on wildlife: Although past use of the land has been primarily grazing,the planned sequence of mining on the site will have some potential impact on wildlife because of the removal of woody vegetation. Although a relatively small area will disturbed at any one time, the mixed tree-shrub ecological site will be replaced by mostly-open grassland, thus changing suitability for some species. However, overall, short-term impact on wildlife will be beneficial, since the site will be available for other species, and the reduction in forested habitat will not be significant given the abundance of such habitat in the vicinity, and livestock will be restricted from much of the site for safety reasons during mining operation. In the long term, reclamation should improve the capability of the area to sustain wildlife, although this is not the intent C&J Gravel Products, Inc. Page 41 of 93 20 OCT 2021 Application for Permit: Oakbrush Hill Gravel M-2021- C&J-DPR-V5-001