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~~ tamp Birds The most common game bird is the mourning dove. There are some doves in Grand Valley year-round, but most appear on the proposed lease areas and desert in early spring and leave in the fall. Chukars are seen in modest number along the Book Cliffs. Gambel's quail and ring-necked pheasant are found in the greasewood drainages and agriculture lands; the pheasant preferring the more mesic conditions found around Highline Canal south. Waterfowl rest on the desert ponds and nest around the ponds in tall herb vegetation. March/April and October/November are periods of greatest concentrations of waterfowl in the area. Other Birds The unsuitability criteria report lease areas. In addition to data nest and a long-eared owl nesting Barn owls are reported in the Big bluff cavity may be the only such Counties. Burrowing owls are expo records raptor activity on the proposed in this report, an active golden eagle tree pair have been sighted near Big Salt Wash. Salt Wash area, and if nesting in a creek of this species in Mesa or Garfield acted in half of the prairie dog towns. A few bird species, chiefly the horned lark, have adapted to acquiring all their needs on the open saltbush/annuals desert. Many other birds require trees or tall shrub stands such as greasewood for at least part of their life. Taller woody vegetation is in short supply and therefore an important resource when stocking the desert with wildlife. Reptile and Amphibians The Woodhouse's toad is the most probable amphibian to be found in this desert country. Eastern fence, short-horned, northern whiptail, and collared lizards are common. Western rattlesnakes (midget-faded) and gopher snakes are found throughout the area, the latter species is more common. Aquatic Life Big Salt Wash and East Salt Creek are perennial streams within the area of the coal transportation routes and the mine site. Runoff is typically high in sulfates, chlorides, total dissolved solids and suspended particles, and as a result only persistent aquatic life occur in these streams such as crayfish and flannel mouth suckers. The Colorado River, 12.5 miles from the mine portal, is the source of some water for which the company is seeking water rights for use in it's mining operations. This river is characterized by great fluctuations in discharge and turbidity. Six endemic fish species occur in the river. Gamefishes, channel catfish, bullhead, largemouth bass, green sunfish, and other species also occur. 3-45