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No further analysis is needed for threatened, endangered, or candidate species that are not known or <br /> suspected to occur in the project area,and for which no suitable habitat is present. Of those species <br /> considered for evaluation only the Canada lynx is known or suspected to occur in the area around the <br /> mine. <br /> 5.1 Canada lynx <br /> Engelmann spruce/subalpine fir is the dominant cover used by Canada lynx year-round, followed by <br /> a mix of Engelmann spruce,subalpine fir and aspen as the second most common cover type and <br /> various riparian and riparian-mix areas as the third most common cover type used, based on a study <br /> of 10,935 Canada lynx locations from February 1999 through August 2008 (Shenk 2009a, 2009b). <br /> Use of riparian areas increased in July,peaked in November, and dropped off December through <br /> June. Site-scale habitat plots also indicated that Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir were the most <br /> common forest stands used by lynx for all activities during winter. <br /> While Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir occurred in similar densities at kill sites, long beds and <br /> travel sites, den sites contained twice the density of subalpine firs found at all other sites (Shenk <br /> 2009a;2009b). Most den sites occurred at high elevations(mean elevation of 11,001 ft), and <br /> typically on north-facing slopes in spruce/fir forests with abundant dense course woody debris <br /> (Shenk 2009b). <br /> Lynx den surveys in Colorado found atotal of 37 dens between 2003 and 2006 with 116 kittens in the <br /> dens during that time(Shenk 2009a). All of the 2005 dens were scattered throughout the high <br /> elevation areas of Colorado, south of I-70. Most of the dens were in spruce/fir forests in areas of <br /> extensive downfall. Elevations ranges from 10,226 to 11,765 feet for 2005 dens (CDOW 2005) <br /> with a mean elevation of 11,001 feet(3354 meters) for all dens prior to 2009 (CDOW2008-2009). <br /> Lynx have been described as being generally tolerant of humans,including moderate levels of <br /> snowmobile traffic(Ruediger et al. 2000). In a study area near north central 1f6,Washington,logging <br /> roads did not appear to affect habitat use by lynx. In a report summarizing high habitat use from 1999- <br /> 2010 for radio-collared Canada lynx introduced in Colorado (Theobald 2011),lynx habitat use areas <br /> occurred away from highways with high traffic use (Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) >IOk). Lynx <br /> habitat use averaged at least 43 km away from high traffic,with the majority at least 27 km away. For <br /> other highway types, distances declined to a range of 16 to 25.9 km away,the majority of habitat being at <br /> least 5.2 km from the nearest highway. <br /> 6. General Effects of the Operation on the Existing Wildlife of the Area <br /> 6.1 Environmental Baseline <br /> Historical actions in the area include prospecting,hard rock mining and livestock grazing. Past and <br /> present federal actions include permitted outfitter guides (hunting,jeep and all-terrain vehicle [ATV] <br /> tours),permitted firewood cutting,and disbursed recreation (including motorized and non-motorized <br /> recreation,hunting,back country skiing, and hiking). Road easements accessing private land inholdings <br /> are currently being administered. General road and trail maintenance occur within the area. Mining claims <br /> exist on both private and federal lands within the area. Future non-federal actions include recreational <br /> hunting,ATV,jeep,and dirt bike use on designated roads and trails, dispersed camping, and other forms <br /> Revenue Mine Amendment 02 <br /> December 2021 H-5 <br />