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Exhibit H-2 <br /> 1.0 INTRODUCTION <br /> M.A. Concrete Construction, Inc. (M.A. Concrete)requested that WestWater Engineering(WestWater) <br /> conduct a wildlife habitat assessment and evaluation for their proposed sand and gravel mine on the <br /> parcel displayed in Figure 1. The project would occur in Mesa County, Colorado in Section 11, <br /> Township 2 South,Range 1 East. The entirety of the project would occur on private land owned by M.A. <br /> Concrete. <br /> The proposed gravel mining operation would be completed in phases. The total estimated disturbance for <br /> all phases of mining would be approximately 83.4 acres. The maximum disturbance at any time would be <br /> 19 acres,which would include the scale,haul road,hot plant,and stockpile area.The gravel mine <br /> operation would be in production for approximately 14 to 16 years(dependent on market conditions). <br /> Gravel operations would occur from 6 AM to 7 PM,Monday through Saturday,at maximum scheduling. <br /> There may be periods of much less activity depending on market conditions and the mining phase. <br /> WestWater biologists conducted a site evaluation within the parcel boundaries of the proposed gravel <br /> mine on September 13, 2023. The objectives of the evaluation were to identify and document the <br /> following natural resources and biological attributes: <br /> • Identify occurrences and map areas of suitable habitat for federally listed threatened,endangered, <br /> proposed, and candidate wildlife species; <br /> • Identify and map areas where sensitive and rare animal species occur; <br /> • Locate raptor(bird of prey)habitat and use areas; and <br /> • Identify Birds of Conservation Concern(BCC)and migratory bird occurrence and habitat areas. <br /> 2.0 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION <br /> 2.1 Terrain <br /> The project area is located north of the Gunnison River and approximately 2 miles west of Whitewater, <br /> Colorado(Figure 1). The proposed gravel mine would be located on the rolling hills and bluffs above the <br /> Gunnison River. There are no prominent topographic features in the project area. Elevation ranges from <br /> approximately 4,675 feet to approximately 4,800 feet. <br /> 2.2 Soils <br /> The proposed gravel mine,support facilities, and associated access roads would be located on one soil <br /> type as described in Table 1. Soils in the project area are generally derived from sandstone. The non- <br /> saline to very slightly saline colluvium soils are well drained. (Table 1)(NRCS 2023). <br /> Table 1. Soil types within the project area. <br /> Map Unit Symbol Soil Series Soil Unit description <br /> Berto-Roygorge-Rock Occurs along valley sides and is not considered prime <br /> 26 outcrop complex, 5 to 15 farmland. The parent material is colluvium over <br /> percent slopes,extremely residuum weathered from sandstone. <br /> stony <br /> 2.3 Vegetation <br /> Vegetation communities in the project area include desert grasslands and shrublands.The majority of the <br /> parcel is composed of annual grass species such as cheatgrass(Bromus tectorum)and annual wheatgrass <br /> (Eremopyrum triticeum). Scattered desert shrublands are present along the southern parcel boundary and <br /> WestWater Engineering Page 1 of 14 September 2023 <br />