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i • THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES SURVEY BOWIE RESOURCES LTD INTRODUCTION Enviro25 Environmental Services Inc. was contracted by Mr. Jim Stover of Stover Engineering Inc. to perform a Threatened and Endangered Species Baseline Study of approximately four square miles of southerly facing, deeply incised terrain currently proposed for development as a coal mine in the vicinity of Bowie, Colorado. This area is partially disturbed from previous coal mining efforts, and is otherwise surrounded by agricultural land in the meadows and river bottoms, and rugged pasturelands. The proposed development is bounded on the west by The East Terror Creek drainage and on the east by the Hubbard Creek Drainage. The southerly extent is bounded by Highway 133, private land, and the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Species designated as species of concern include the Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, American Peregrine Falcon Falco • peregrinus anatum, and the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax trailii extimus. Studies undertaken, necessarily included methods designed to identify likely habitats, unoccupied nests, and potential nesting locations for these species. The season of investigation was fall, necessitating thorough literature review, regulatory interface, and both aerial survey and ground truthing methods. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Aerial photography, and topographic maps were studied to ascertain the likely boundaries of potential disturbance anticipated as a result of the Proposed Bowie Resources development. An area approximately 2 miles by 2 miles was designated as the area of concern (see Figure 1.). Aerial survey activities were undertaken on October 23, 1995 using a high wing Cessna 172 STOL equipped aircraft. The intent of these surveys was to identify potential and actual nesting sites for Pezegrine Falcons, Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, and riparian areas possessing certain assemblages of willow/tamarisk growth which might provide suitable habitat for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. No nesting locations for cliff nesting raptors could be identified, and no Bald Eagle nests were identified in the three mile stretch of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Most of the riparian areas which could provide habitats suitable for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher nesting are intensely grazed, open grasslands, lacking the critical components of willow/tamarisk growth. A single area possibly containing the right habitat components was identified immediately to the west of the confluence of Hubbard Creek and the River.