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Tech Memo Subject <br /> <br /> <br />7 <br />DRAFT for review purposes only. Use of contents on this sheet is subject to the limitations specified at the beginning of thi s document. <br />Red Creek Quarry_WildlifeReport 20230907 <br />• Bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis <br />• Elk, Cervus canadensis <br />• White-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus townsendii <br />• Prairie rattlesnake, Crotolus viridi <br />4.2 Discussion <br />None of the species identified as being federally or state listed as endangered, threatened or of special con- <br />cern were observed within the Mining Permit and Affected Area Boundary. The absence of observation does <br />not guarantee a species is not present, however. Therefore, each of those species is discussed below rela- <br />tive to its potential for being present within the Mining Permit and Affected Area Boundary. <br />4.2.1 Gray wolf <br />The USFWS states in the IPaC report that gray wolves would only be present in Colorado as lone, dispersing <br />wolves. Colorado is completely outside of the current range map for gray wolves (USFWS 2023g). <br />The likelihood of gray wolves being present within the Mining Permit and Affected Area Boundary is ex- <br />tremely low. <br />4.2.2 Eastern Black Rail <br />Colorado Parks and Wildlife documented in 2016 that the species is found in dense emergent vegetation, <br />with a mix of new and residual growth. Also, Colorado-based research (USFWS 2023b) defined black rail <br />habitat as emergent marsh wetlands that consisted of cattails and other wetland species, like hardstem bul- <br />rush (Schoenoplectus acutus). <br />The Mining Permit and Affected Area Boundary is within the known range of the Eastern black rail. However, <br />very little, if any, habitat for this species can be found within the Mining Permit and Affected Area Boundary. <br />While there are emergent wetland plant species found in the area, they are located in and along Red Creek <br />and not in any emergent marshes. The overstory habitat favored by Eastern black rails is absent in these ar- <br />eas as well. <br />Therefore, the likelihood of Eastern black rails being present within the Mining Permit and Affected Area <br />Boundary is very low. <br />4.2.3 Greenback Cutthroat Trout <br />Greenback cutthroat trout are coldwater fish belonging to the trout, salmon and whitefish family. This spe- <br />cies inhabits cold water streams and cold-water lakes with adequate stream spawning habitat present dur- <br />ing spring. In general, trout require different habitat types for different life stages: juvenile (protective cover <br />and low velocity flow, in side channels and small tributaries); spawning (riffles with clean gravels); over-win- <br />ter (deep water with low velocity flow and protective cover); and adult (juxtaposition of slow water areas for <br />resting and fast water areas for feeding, with protective cover from boulders, logs, overhanging vegetation or <br />undercut banks). Both water quality and quantity are important. Greenbacks, like other cutthroat trout, gen- <br />erally require clear, cold, well-oxygenated water. <br />The range of the greenback cutthroat trout does not extend into Fremont County, but the range does fall <br />within Pueblo County, through which the Arkansas River flows. The only waterbody of any substantial size <br />within the Mining Permit and Affected Area Boundary is Red Creek. Red Creek in this area does not have <br />enough water flow to support greenback cutthroat trout nor do the habitats exist in Red Creek that are <br />needed to support the different life stages of the species, as described above.