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i) C <br /> 2.0 Methods <br /> 2.1 Desktop Resource Assessment <br /> Prior to fieldwork, TRC conducted a desktop resource assessment within and adjacent to the <br /> Project Area. The desktop assessment included publicly available Geographic Information <br /> System (GIS) databases and information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), <br /> Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) to identify <br /> suitable habitat and the current range for special status species within the Project Area. Sources <br /> of information included the USFWS Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) Trust <br /> Resources Report (Project Code: 2023-0135698) to determine the potential for federally listed <br /> threatened and endangered species and Designated Critical Habitat that may occur within and <br /> adjacent to the Project Area (USFWS 2023). In addition, TRC obtained the state-wide CPW <br /> Threatened and Endangered Species List (CPW 2023a) and utilized public GIS databases <br /> (CPW 2023b; COGCC 2023; CODEX 2023) to determine the potential for State of Colorado <br /> Threatened, Endangered, or Special Concern to occur within and adjacent to the Project Area. <br /> TRC reviewed aerial imagery, existing land use/cover data, species-specific literature, and the <br /> Colorado State Wildlife Action Plan to evaluate the known range and presence/absence of <br /> potentially suitable habitat within the Project Area (Google Earth Pro 2023; MRLC Consortium <br /> 2023; CPW 2015). Species occurrence records within a larger quad-based area were obtained <br /> from the CNHP (CNHP 2023). <br /> 2.2 Field Survey <br /> TRC's field survey was conducted on October 16 and 20, 2023. The field survey Study Area <br /> included the Project Area plus 0.25-mile and 0.5-mile spatial buffers recommended by CPW <br /> (2020). CPW recommends spatial buffers around a project area to determine the presence of <br /> project-adjacent raptor nests. Observations outside the Project Area were made from a vehicle <br /> using binoculars and spotting scopes where public access along existing roads was available. <br /> Within the Project Area, TRC biologists Patti Lorenz and Rose Crispin conducted a ground- <br /> based field survey that consisted of scoping the Project Area with binoculars and a spotting <br /> scope on foot and from a vehicle to observe species present, locate suitable habitats (e.g., <br /> trees, grasslands, riparian areas, prairie dog towns, and other mammal burrows) and locate <br /> raptor nests. Also documented at the time of survey were signs such as whitewash or other <br /> indicators of past or present nesting (e.g., defensive behavior by raptors in the area, the <br /> presence of juvenile birds, and repeated observations of raptors, including ravens, in the same <br /> general area) . The locations of any special status species, raptor nests, and suitable habitats <br /> were recorded and mapped with a GPS unit. <br /> Colorado Sand Company LLC—Kersey Mine May 2024 <br /> Special Status Species and Habitat Assessment Report 2 <br />