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ERC Bernhardt Site
<br /> Threatened-Endangered Species and General Wildlife Screening
<br /> 3.0 SCREENING METHODOLOGY
<br /> ERC conducted a literature review as part of initial data collection for preparation of this report. ERC
<br /> reviewed available literature sources including: CPW information and the US Fish and Wildlife Service
<br /> (USFWS) Federal Register.
<br /> A field inspection was subsequently conducted on January 25, 2023, to identify and document the
<br /> presence of natural vegetation communities, general wildlife use and potential for threatened and
<br /> endangered species/habitat. Upon review of all available resources, including literature and field
<br /> inspections, ERC provides the following determination for the survey area.
<br /> 4.0 GENERAL WILDLIFE HABITAT (NON-REGULATED)
<br /> Wildlife utilizes the general landscape in a multitude of ways and uses a variety of habitats as areas of
<br /> permanent inhabitance,seasonal inhabitance,breeding grounds, migratory routes,for foraging purposes,
<br /> or as temporary shelter. Potential wildlife habitat includes the entire survey area.
<br /> Historic and current land use associated with agricultural practices have restricted and/or degraded the
<br /> development of any significant natural vegetation communities within a majority the survey area, which
<br /> limits the overall quality of potential wildlife habitat. As discussed in Section 2.0,two habitat types were
<br /> observed within the survey area and are characterized as Great Plains Ruderal Grassland and Shrubland,
<br /> and Disturbed. Both vegetative communities,the Great Plains ruderal grassland and shrubland (98%) and
<br /> disturbed (2%) are dominated by non-native or weedy species and are not typically considered of high
<br /> ecological value to wildlife; however, agricultural lands can have beneficial values to certain wildlife
<br /> species. These areas at a minimum are considered "open space' providing limited foraging and hunting
<br /> grounds, refuge and limited areas for nesting (Kingery 1998). Such lands often serve as a buffer between
<br /> natural areas, providing food, cover, nesting and open-space habitat which allow movement and
<br /> exchange of plant and animal populations.The vacant,agricultural land which is present across the survey
<br /> area has largely replaced the native shortgrass prairie habitat which would have been present in this
<br /> region. Herbaceous non-native species and ruderal native species which dominate the vegetation
<br /> community generally do not provide quality habitat for most wildlife. In general, although agriculture
<br /> practices have altered the structure,function, community composition, and habitat value of land within
<br /> a majority of the survey area, some areas do provide a variety of wildlife habitat values in an otherwise
<br /> agricultural landscape.Within the survey area,significant limitations for wildlife use exist due to land use
<br /> activities such as regular mowing, habitat fragmentation from fences, overgrazing, and general
<br /> agricultural practices within the survey area.
<br /> Some other local wildlife species that may use this habitat within the survey area include coyote (Canis
<br /> latrans), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), rabbit (Lepus sp.), cottontail (Sylvilogus sp.), black tailed prairie dog
<br /> (Cynomys ludovicianus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), deer mouse (Peromyscus
<br /> moniculatus), meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), red-winged blackbird (Ageloius phoeniceus),
<br /> mourning dove (Zenaida macrouro), killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), western meadowlark (Sturnella
<br /> neglecto), barn owl (Tyto olbo), hawks (Buteo sp.), and garter snake (Thomnophis sp.). These types of
<br /> species may utilize the survey area; however, have not specifically been identified within the survey area.
<br /> • Generally, there are features within the survey area and the surrounding area that provide general
<br /> habitat for local songbirds, raptors, and small to mid-size mammals; however,the habitat within the
<br /> survey area is characterized primarily as Great Plains Ruderal Grassland and Shrubland, which is
<br /> degraded from a wildlife perspective by historic and current land use practices.
<br /> • The adjacent and abutting Eastern Cottonwood Floodplain and Woodland vegetative community
<br /> contains stands of mature and dead cottonwood trees that provide relatively high ecological value to
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