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AL ERC Strear Soil Mine <br /> Preliminary Environmental Assessment <br /> specifically for the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission as part of fluid mineral development; however, <br /> CPW has provided these recommendations for other land use proposals. <br /> • No HPH areas exist within the survey area. Several wildlife species do utilize this area for nesting, <br /> foraging, and other seasonal uses. A golden eagle nest buffer is located O.S mile east of the survey <br /> area, and numerous HPH areas located approximately 2.25 miles west along the South Platte River <br /> corridor. <br /> 8.0 AQUATIC RESOURCES <br /> A formal routine delineation of aquatic resources was not performed as part of this PEA. Identification <br /> of potential aquatic resources was conducted using USGS topographic maps, the USFWS NWI data, <br /> CNHP wetland data, and from field inspection. The purpose of the aquatic resources evaluation was to <br /> identify potential wetlands regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under Section 404 of <br /> the CWA. <br /> TOPOGRAPHIC MAP <br /> The USGS 1:24,000 topographic quadrangle (quad) map of the survey area (Milliken, CO 2022) was <br /> reviewed to identify potential drainage features. Farmers Independent Ditch along the eastern border of <br /> the survey area is the only resource shown on the topographic quad map (USGS 2024). <br /> NATIONAL WETLANDS INVENTORY DATA <br /> NWI data was reviewed for the survey area. NWI data are published by USFWS and help to identify <br /> potential wetlands and aquatic areas. The NWI data depicts Farmers Independent Ditch along the <br /> boundary of the survey area as R4SBCx, a seasonally flooded, manmade intermittent riverine. <br /> Additionally, the irrigation pond along Farmers Independent Ditch in the center of the survey area has <br /> designation PUBFx, or a semipermanently flooded, manmade freshwater pond (USFWS 2024b). <br /> COLORADO NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (CNHP) DATA <br /> CNHP data is published using wetland, riparian, fen, and playa mapping by CNHP, USFWS, Bird <br /> Conservancy of the Rockies and other partners. CNHP data was reviewed for the survey area. The CNHP <br /> data depicts Farmers Independent Ditch along the boundary of the survey area as R4SBCx, a seasonally <br /> flooded, manmade intermittent riverine. Additionally, the irrigation pond along Farmers Independent <br /> Ditch in the center of the survey area has designation PUBFx, or a semipermanently flooded, manmade <br /> freshwater pond (CNHP 2024). <br /> FIELD INSPECTION <br /> The accuracy of the USGS and NWI mapped features were evaluated during the field inspection <br /> performed by ERC on June 26, 2024. During the field inspection, portions of Farmers Independent Ditch <br /> were observed to be within the survey area boundary, as well as two (2) irrigation ponds, an inundated <br /> quarry depression, and a small concrete waterway (Figure 3). Farmers Independent Ditch is assumed to <br /> flow into South Platte River, a traditional navigable water (TNW). Both irrigation ponds are filled with <br /> water from Farmers Independent Ditch then used to irrigate the crops in the survey area. It is assumed <br /> that the ponds have no connection back to the ditch. It is undetermined how water is brought into the <br /> quarry or small concrete waterway but neither has a connection to Farmers Independent Ditch or TNW. <br /> 13 <br />