2022-03-04_PERMIT FILE - M2022009

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Exhibit H - Wildlife Information Wildlife Assessment Site Description Savage and Savage biologists conducted an on-site wildlife assessment of the proposed HS Land and Cattle project site on January 19 and February 15, 2022. The project site is comprised of an approximately 790 acre site within portions of Sections 18 and 19, Township 4 North, Range 66 West, and portions of Sections 24, 25 and 26, Township 4 North, Range 67 West, all within the 6t' PM, Weld County, Colorado. The center of the project site is located at 40.297290'latitude and-104.820142'longitude. The project site is located west of Gilcrest, Colorado, west of Colorado Highway 60, south and east of the South Platte River, and north of Weld County Road 40. The project site is accessed from any of the above roads. Weather during the site investigation was cool, dry, and clear with a temperature in the mid-40's (OF). Snow cover was present on the agricultural areas of the secondary alluvial terrace. The topography of the site is dominated by the primary and secondary alluvial terraces of the South Platte River. The elevation of the center of the project area on the secondary alluvial terrace is 4753 feet and the elevation of the primary alluvial terrace is 4720 feet. The project site is divided by a steep slope between the alluvial terraces that runs southwest-northeast along the west side of the project site. The soils that dominate the site are formed from alluvium,with the predominant soils being sandy loams and loam that are underlain by aggregate with varying groundwater levels (USDA, 1981). The significant hydrologic feature adjacent to the site is the South Platte River. The project site has been developed for non-irrigated and irrigated agriculture, oil and gas production, and grazing. Agriculture within the project site is irrigated by pivot and flood irrigation methods. Vegetation within the project site is divided largely between agricultural uses on the secondary alluvial terrace and grazing and non-irrigated hay production interspersed with native riparian and wetland vegetation on the primary alluvial terrace. Significant Wildlife Resources Tables 1, 2, and 3 list wildlife species that potentially occur on-site according to the Colorado Distribution Latilong Studies(CDOW, 1981, 1990, 1998). These latilong studies address mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. A further review of wildlife species for which the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife has distribution maps on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission web site (http://cogcc.state.co.us/infosys/Maps/wildlifemap.cfm)was undertaken in January 2022. This mapping indicated the presence of a bald eagle nest to the west of the project site on the west side of the South Platte River. Bald eagle winter night roosts are present along Exhibit H Page 1