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RIVERCITY <br /> Exhibit H <br /> Wildlife Information <br /> The permit area is located along the Colorado River in the Grand Valley near Grand Junction, <br /> Colorado.The Colorado River corridor is an important habitat feature providing vegetation, <br /> forage, and water resources that support a wide range of wildlife species. <br /> Wildlife Resources <br /> Wildlife in the vicinity of the site includes both game and non-game species. Common big game <br /> species in the region include mule deer and, less frequently, elk,which utilize the Colorado River <br /> corridors for forage and movement, particularly in winter and spring.' <br /> Non-game resources are abundant along the river corridor. Small mammals such as white-tailed <br /> jackrabbit, ground squirrels, and various rodent species occur in the uplands, while beaver and <br /> muskrat are present along the banks of the river.'Amphibians and reptiles, including Great <br /> Basin spadefoot toad, collared lizard, and gopher snake, are also common.' <br /> The Colorado River corridor provides habitat for numerous bird species, including raptors such <br /> as red-tailed hawk,American kestrel, and great horned owl, as well as migratory songbirds.' <br /> Waterfowl (e.g., mallard, Canada goose, and killdeer) use the river during migration and <br /> breeding seasons.' <br /> Seasonal Use <br /> Wildlife use of the project area is seasonal and varied. Riparian zones provide year-round <br /> habitat, but their importance increases in summer, when water availability and shade are <br /> critical, and in winter,when mule deer concentrate along lower-elevation river corridors for <br /> forage.'Spring and fall migration periods bring increased use of the river by waterfowl.' Upland <br /> areas adjacent to the site support resident small mammals and reptiles primarily during the <br /> warmer months of April through October.' <br /> Threatened and Endangered Species <br /> No federally listed threatened or endangered terrestrial wildlife species are known to occur <br /> directly within the permit area. However,the Colorado River downstream from the project site <br /> provides habitat for several federally endangered fish species, including the Colorado <br /> 'Colorado Parks and Wildlife.Species Activity and Habitat in the Grand Valley Planning Region, Colorado <br /> Parks and Wildlife, 2022. <br /> z Hammerson,Geoffrey A.Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado. 2nd ed., University Press of Colorado, <br /> 1999. <br /> 3 National Audubon Society. Important Bird Areas:Colorado River Corridor, Grand Junction Section. <br /> Audubon Colorado,2021. <br />