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• Southwest Willow Flycatcher <br />The on-site investigation of the exploration drill site locations did not identify any critical <br />southwest willow flycatcher habitat. The National Pazk Service (USDI, 1997) natural <br />history summary and survey protocol for the flycatcher identifies fow distinct types of <br />southwest willow flycatcher habitat. These are described as monotypic high elevation <br />willow, monotypic exotic, native broadleaf; and mixed native/exotic. All of these critical <br />habitats have a dense shrubby understory located neaz or within saturated soils or open <br />water. None of the exploration drill sites had the described critical habitat present for the <br />flycatcher. It was concluded that there would not be impacts to the southwest willow <br />flycatcher from the project. <br />Boreal Toad <br />Boreal toads are found in mountainous areas of Colorado between 8500 and 11000 feet <br />elevation. This species occws in aspen and conifer forests with rocky areas or ground <br />squirrel burrows, adjacent to wet meadows, marshes, and margins of beaver ponds and <br />lakes (USDA, USDI, 2000). The boreal toad is unlikely to occur in any of the <br />exploration drill hole sites based on elevational limits and vegetation communities. The <br />maximum elevation of any of the drill hole sites is 8360 feet, and the characteristic <br />vegetation type is oakbrush/mountain shrub. <br />• Wolverine <br />No evidence of wolverines was found during the site investigation. Wolverines were last <br />seen in the area in 1928, and aze currently concluded to have been extirpated from <br />Colorado. <br />Montane Riparian Shrubland, Montane Riparian Forest, Cottonwood Riparian <br />Forest, Narrowleaf Corionwood/Skunkbrush Natural.Communities <br />Of the natural communities identified by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, only <br />one was noted as occurring within a section included in the potential azea of distwbance. <br />A cottonwood ripazian forest was identified as present within Section 35, T12S, R91W. <br />Site OM-OI-O] is located within the identified section but is not located within or <br />adjacent to a cottonwood riparian forest natural community. None of the other identified <br />natural communities were found in the exploration drill hole sites or adjacent areas <br />during the on-site investigation. <br />Colorado Desert Parsley <br />The Colorado desert parsley is described as endemic to the barren adobe hills derived <br />from decomposition of Mancos shale in saltbush communities (CLAPS, 1989). No azeas <br />of Mancos shale decomposition were located at any of the exploration drill hole sites, nor <br />• were any of the sites located in saltbush vegetation communities. <br />=5- <br />