2023-09-06_PERMIT FILE - M2023032 (2)

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PMY Arkansas River through a controlled water structure west of the study area and is assumed to be an agricultural ditch (Google Earth, 2020). Excelsior Ditch then flows to the east and connects with Chico Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River, east of the study area. 3.4.1.4 Abandoned Channel of the Arkansas River The Abandoned Channel of the Arkansas is represented as a dashed blue line on the 2019 USGS Devine, Colorado 7.5-minute quadrangle and was once the mainstem of the Arkansas River according to the 1960 USGS Devine Colorado 7.5-minute quadrangle (Figure 1; Appendix A, Photos 5 and 6; USGS, 2019; USGS, 1960). The western portion of the channel was primarily covered with common duckweed (Lemna minor), a floating aquatic plant (Appendix A, Photo 5). Flows in the western portion of the channel were obstructed by a North American beaver(Castor conadensis) dam to the east.An OHWM was mapped for the western portion of the channel and the width was approximately 70 feet. Water started flowing in the eastern portion of the channel, east of the beaver dam. The average width of the eastern portion of the channel was approximately three feet and an OHWM was mapped along the channels edge (Figure 2; Appendix A, Photo 6). Substrate within the western portion of the channel was generally sand and small rock/cobble. The soil of the banks of the channel were mapped as Las Animas fine sandy loam,0 to 2 percent slopes,frequently flooded and Bankard sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded (USDA, 2019). The channel flows east and connects with the Arkansas River, just east of the study area. 3.4.I.S Thunderbird Lake Thunderbird Lake is represented as a lake on the USGS Devine, Colorado 7.5-minute quadrangle (Figure 1; Appendix A, Photo 7; USGS, 2019). Hydrophytic vegetation was noted in patches along the fringe (see Section 3.4.2.3 Thunderbird Lake Wetlands for a description of the wetlands). Substrate within the lake was comprised of sand, clay, and loam materials. The soil of the bank of the lake was comprised of sandy Ioams and loamy sands and is mapped as Glenberg-Haversid complex,0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded (USDA,2019). The lake is a total of 3.88 acres. The depth of the lake is unknown. An OHWM was mapped around the lake (Figure 2). The lake appears to be isolated with no downstream connection to other waterbodies. However, the lake is less than 350 feet north of the Arkansas River and the river may overtop its banks during flood events and/or be connected by groundwater seepage. 3.4.1.6 Unnamed Pond 1 Unnamed Pond I was noted in the study area east of Unnamed Pond 2 and Thunderbird Lake (Figure 1; Appendix A, Photo 8). The pond is not represented on the USGS Devine, Colorado 7.5-minute quadrangle (USGS, 2019). Hydrophytic vegetation was noted in patches along the fringe (see Section 3.4.2.4 Unnamed Pond 1 Wetlands for a description of the wetlands). Substrate within the pond was comprised of sand, clay,and loam materials.The pond is a total of 0.66 acre.The depth of the pond is unknown.An OHWM was mapped around the pond (Figure 2). The pond appears to be isolated with no downstream connection to other waterbodies. However, the pond is less than 500 feet northeast of the Arkansas River and the river may overtop its banks during flood events and/or be connected by groundwater seepage. 3.4.1.7 Unnamed Pond 2 Unnamed Pond 2 is represented as a pond on the USGS Devine, Colorado 7.5-minute quadrangle (Figure 1; Appendix A, Photo 9; USGS, 2019). The pond was covered in common duckweed. Substrate within the pond was comprised of sand, clay, and loam materials. The pond is a total of 0.09 acre with an approximate length of 90 feet and an approximate width of 50 feet. The depth of the pond is unknown. An OHWM was mapped around the pond (Figure 2). The pond appears to be isolated with no downstream connection to other Biological Resources Report Thunderbird Property Pueblo County, Colorado Page 8