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Exhibit H-2 <br /> (Pituophis catenifer),and the Western terrestrial garter snake(Thamnophis elegans)are the reptiles most <br /> likely to inhabit the project area. <br /> 3.10 Fish and Amphibians <br /> There are no streams or perennial water sources within the project area to support fish and amphibian <br /> species. The Gunnison River is located approximately 1,700 feet south of the project area. <br /> 4.0 IMPACTS AND MITIGATION <br /> 4.1 Federal Threatened,Endanilered,and Candidate Wildlife Species <br /> Impacts: Critical Habitat for the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker is located 1,756 feet south <br /> of the gravel mine parcel boundaries along the Gunnison River(Figure 2). The bonytail and humpback <br /> chub are located further downstream in the Colorado River.No direct impacts to the Colorado River fish <br /> species would occur as a result of the proposed gravel mining operation;however,there is the potential <br /> for increased sediment to be transported to downstream waterways during construction and production of <br /> the gravel mine which could impact the federally listed fish species located in the Gunnison and Colorado <br /> Rivers. <br /> Monarch butterflies have potential to forage in the project area;however,based on site evaluation the <br /> parcel does not contain milkweed plants or other flowering forbs to support the monarch butterfly's <br /> crucial life functions;therefore,impacts to monarchs are expected to be negligible. <br /> No other federally threatened,endangered,proposed,or candidate wildlife species are expected to inhabit <br /> the project area as described in Table 3 above. <br /> Mitigation: With the implementation of an appropriate stormwater management plan and spill prevention <br /> control and countermeasure plan,no impacts are anticipated to federally listed fish species that occur <br /> downstream of the project area. <br /> Upon completion of mining activities,the site will be reclaimed in accordance with the reclamation plan <br /> prepared for this project.An appropriate seed mix for this ecological area will be applied using drill and <br /> broadcast seeding methods. <br /> 4.2 Colorado State Listed Threatened,Endangered,and Special Concern Wildlife Species <br /> Impacts: A total of 83.4 acres of desert shrubland and grassland habitat would be disturbed over the life <br /> of the proposed gravel mine;however,a maximum of 19 acres would be disturbed at one time. The <br /> remaining lands would be reclaimed and/or left undisturbed. Construction and gravel mining operations <br /> has the potential to cause mortality and displacement of wildlife species that may occur within the parcel <br /> boundaries.The project area provides suitable habitat for kit fox,midget faded rattlesnake, and long- <br /> nosed leopard lizard. Due to the abundance of desert shrubland and grassland habitat surrounding the <br /> project area, any displaced animals would likely relocate to these adjacent areas.Impacts to these species <br /> would be negligible because suitable habitat availability is abundant at a landscape scale. <br /> Townend's big-eared bat may forage in the project area but no suitable rock outcrops, caves,mines,or <br /> other suitable hibernacula and roosting habitat occurs within the parcel boundaries;therefore,impacts to <br /> bats would be negligible. <br /> Mitigation: Rattlesnakes may den communally or individually in a variety of habitat features that offer <br /> insulation and security, including deep crevices in rocky outcroppings and rodent dens. Personnel <br /> associated with the gravel mining operation should be educated on snake identification and conflict <br /> avoidance in an effort to prevent injury to personnel and mortality to snakes that may be encountered <br /> during the project development. <br /> WestWater Engineering Page 7 of 14 September 2023 <br />