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ERC Strear Soil Mine <br /> Preliminary Environmental Assessment <br /> year, averaging five young per litter, in a grass-lined nest. Areas that are highly disturbed or modified <br /> (including landscaped lots and paved areas) or wetland areas dominated by cattails are excluded from <br /> this recommendation. <br /> • Two (2) trap sites are recorded 2.S miles west of the survey area along the South Platte River. No <br /> PMJM individuals were present during any of the surveys (USFWS 2018). <br /> • Vegetation communities within the survey area are not typical habitat for the PMJM. The Cultivated <br /> Cropland and Disturbed vegetation communities within the survey area are not conducive to PMJM. <br /> Due to the absence of suitable habitat and lack of positive trap sites, it is unlikely that the PMJM <br /> exists within the survey area. Any future land use changes on the survey area would result in "No <br /> Take" of this species or potential habitat of this species. <br /> UTE LADIES'-TRESSES (SPIRANTHES DILUVIALIS) <br /> The Ute ladies'-tresses (ULT) is listed as federally threatened under the ESA. The ULT occurs in <br /> seasonally moist soils and wet meadows near springs, lakes, or perennial streams and their associated <br /> floodplains below 6,500 feet in elevation in certain areas of Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and <br /> Nevada. Typical sites include early successional riparian habitats such as point bars, sand bars, and low <br /> lying gravelly, sandy, or cobbly edges. The ULT seem to require "permanent subirrigation", conditions <br /> where the water table is close to the surface, but the ULT are not tolerant of permanent standing water. <br /> Typical habitat is open and sparsely vegetated, populations of ULT decline if trees and shrubs invade the <br /> habitat. ULT do not compete well with aggressive species such as reed canary grass or monocultures of <br /> cattails. <br /> • The upland agricultural land within the survey area is not typical habitat conducive to the UTL. No <br /> UTL or suitable habitat was identified within the survey area. Any future land use changes on the <br /> survey area would result in "No Take" of this species or potential habitat of this species. <br /> MONARCH BUTTERFLY (DANAUS PLEXIPPUS <br /> The monarch butterfly is listed as a candidate species under the ESA. Adult monarch butterflies are large <br /> and conspicuous, with bright orange wings surrounded by a black border and covered with black veins. <br /> The black border has a double row of white spots, present on the upper side of the wings. Adult <br /> monarchs are sexually dimorphic, with males having narrower wing venation and scent patches. The <br /> bright coloring of a monarch serves as a warning to predators that eating them can be toxic. <br /> As a candidate species, the monarch butterfly has no statutory protection under the ESA, however the <br /> USFWS encourages cooperative conservation efforts because they are species that may warrant future <br /> protection under the ESA (USFWS 2017). <br /> • No monarch butterflies were observed within or surrounding the survey area. However, showy <br /> milkweed (Asclepius specioso) was observed infrequently in the western portion of the survey area. <br /> The survey area historically has been highly modified with agricultural practices. However, future <br /> land use changes should consider and describe any planned conservation measures for the monarch <br /> butterfly. Conservation measures can include habitat management such as the inclusion of native <br /> milkweed plant species in restoration efforts, reducing herbicide and pesticide use within the survey <br /> 10 <br />