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Bald eagles, however, winter in the vicinity of Stonewall and are occasionally <br />observed at other locations along the Purgatoire River in areas of large <br />cottonwood trees (Holder 1994). Mining operations are not projected to <br />impact the wintering habitats. This is based on the following conclusions. First, <br />the mine has been in operation for manyyears, thereforeany eagles in the area are <br />already accustomed to any mine disturbances. Also, no new impacts to <br />the fishery, riparian habitats, water quality, or aquatic habitat are anticipated as <br />a result of mine operations. <br />Five threatened or endangered mammal species (black- footed ferret, river otter, <br />wolverine, gray wolf and grizzly bear) occurring in Colorado have historic range in <br />this area. Three of these species are believed to be extirpated in Colorado, they <br />are the black - footed ferret, gray wolf, and the grizzly bear. In addition, no prairie <br />dog colonies were observed during the 1984 site reconnaissance therefore no <br />potential black- footed ferret habitat exists. <br />There have been unconfirmed reports of river otters in the general mine area. A <br />pair of otters was reported on the South Fork of the Purgatoire River in 1993. <br />However subsequent searches of the area have not indicated any otters using <br />this area (Holder 1994). No impacts to otters are anticipated do to the lack <br />of disturbance to the river or the aquatic habitat within the project area. <br />Wolverines are known to occur in Colorado however, in limited numbers. <br />There have been no documented reports of wolverines in the general mine area. <br />The greenback cutthroat trout is listed as having historic range in this area, <br />however, with rainbow and brown trout being present, competition has <br />eliminated thegreenback. TheArkansas River speckled chub and Arkansas darter <br />are listed as endangered species lower in the watershed, however, should not be <br />impacted because of no additional water diversion associated with the current <br />mining operation. <br />TR -68 2.04 -51 (Revised 3/21/2014) <br />