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Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Habitat Assessment& Conservation Plan <br /> Two Rivers Parcels—Varra Companies <br /> Weld County, Colorado <br /> Conclusions <br /> No Preble's were found during the 2017 field survey. The known presence of Preble's approximately 1.5 <br /> miles away from the survey area along the South Platte (Savage and Savage 2001) demonstrates that <br /> suitable habitat is present along the South Platte in less disturbed areas further upstream.This suitable <br /> habitat consists of riparian areas with adjacent wet meadows. Dense shrub, grass and forb ground cover <br /> along creeks, rivers, and associated waterbodies are also preferred by Preble's during the warm season. <br /> From early fall through spring,this suitable habitat consists of multi-stem vegetation (e.g. shrubs) under <br /> which the Preble's will burrow for hibernation (CPW 2015). <br /> Based on the negative survey results of this survey and previous years completed in the vicinity of the <br /> study area (Greystone, LLC 2001 and Colorado Urban Wildlife 1997), and the lack of abundant suitable <br /> habitat in the survey area, ERO concludes that Preble's are not present in the study area. Although <br /> grasses and shrubs are present along the riparian corridor included in the project area,these corridors <br /> lack the adjacent suitable upland habitat in many places, as well as the lack of suitable soil substrate and <br /> vegetation along the sandy shorelines found within sections of the project area. With the presence of <br /> more suitable habitat upstream and the level of disturbance already present in the project area, ERO <br /> concludes that no further surveys are needed. In addition, based on guidance from DOI (2018), even if <br /> habitat were present, it is ERO professional opinion that the project would not result in "take" of a listed <br /> species, and application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under Section 10 (a)(1)(B) of the ESA is not <br /> appropriate for the project. <br /> Recommendations <br /> Although not required by regulation, in order to best avoid potential impacts to small mammal habitat, <br /> including potential Preble's habitat, in the project area, ERO recommends the following avoidance <br /> measures: <br /> • Riparian habitat consisting of shrubs, grasses, and forbs remain intact in order to maintain <br /> current vegetation communities and allow for habitat connectivity to habitat upstream and <br /> downstream <br /> • Restrict planned disturbances to existing areas of agricultural fields and roads <br /> • Provide buffers between planned disturbance and existing riparian corridor <br /> • Limit traffic to existing roads and bridges <br /> • Limit hours of construction activities to daylight hours to minimize overlap with most active <br /> small mammal periods <br /> • Control noise and dust levels during construction activities <br /> 10 <br /> ERO Resources Corporation <br />