2023-08-03_PERMIT FILE - M2023025 (42)

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ERC Bernhardt Site Threatened-Endangered Species and General Wildlife Screening LITE LADIES'-TRESSES(SPIRANTHES DILUVIALIS) The Ute ladies'-tresses (ULT) is listed as federally threatened under the ESA. The ULT occurs in seasonally moist soils and wet meadows near springs, lakes, or perennial streams and their associated floodplains below 6,500 feet in elevation in certain areas of Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada. Typical sites include early successional riparian habitats such as point bars, sand bars, and low lying gravelly, sandy, or cobbly edges. They seem to require "permanent subirrigation", conditions where the water table is close to the surface, but they are not tolerant of permanent standing water. Typical habitat is open and sparsely vegetated, populations decline if trees and shrubs invade the habitat. They do not compete well with aggressive species such as reed canary grass or monocultures of cattails. • There are known population occurrences of ULT in Weld County. A total of 21 historic and extant populations have been recorded in Colorado in 6 watersheds, none of which have occurred in the Wildcat Mound-South Platte River Watershed. The USFWS ULT Block Clearance Zone for the Denver Metro Area (USFWS 2008) which identifies areas exempt from further review for ULT habitat, shows the survey area does not occur within the Block Clearance Zone. • The upland agricultural land within the survey area is not typical habitat conducive to the Ute ladies'- tresses. No Ute ladies'-tresses or suitable habitat was identified within the survey area. Any future land use changes on the survey area would result in No Take of this species or potential habitat of this species. MONARCH BUTTERFLY(DANAUS PLEXIPPUS) The monarch butterfly is listed as candidate species under the ESA. Adult monarch butterflies are large and conspicuous, with bright orange wings surrounded by a black border and covered with black veins. The black border has a double row of white spots,present on the upper side of the wings.Adult monarchs are sexually dimorphic,with males having narrower wing venation and scent patches.The bright coloring of a monarch serves as a warning to predators that eating them can be toxic. As a candidate species, the monarch butterfly has no statutory protection under the ESA, however the USFWS encourages cooperative conservation efforts because they are species that may warrant future protection under the ESA(USFWS 2017). • No monarch butterflies or milkweed species were observed within or surrounding the survey area. The survey area historically has been highly modified with agricultural practices. However,future land use changes should consider and describe any planned conservation measures for the monarch butterfly. Conservation measures can include habitat management such as the inclusion of native milkweed plant species in restoration efforts, reducing herbicide and pesticide use within the survey area, and/or creating a conservation easement for habitat protection. Such best management practices will aid in maintaining and/or enhancing the future survival of the monarch butterfly survival. However,these are not regulatory requirements. 13