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• The absence of perennial streams with suitable habitat and known distribution precludes the <br />presence of the Federally listed fishes and the Federal candidate fishes within or <br />proximate to the permit area. In addition, the loner Dry Creek diversion, uh ich diverts <br />flow from Dry Creek into the Walker ditch downstream of the loadout facility effectively <br />precludes any fishes attempting to enter the upper reaches of Dry Creek. <br />The USFWS has proposed designation of critical habitat for the Colorado squawfish, <br />Razorback sucker, humpback chub and bonytait chub (F.R. Vol. 58, No. 18, p. 6578). The <br />designation includes much of the Upper Colorado River Basin including the Yampa River to <br />Craig, Colorado. Portions of the Yampa above Craig, including [he Dry Lreek Tributary are <br />not proposed for designation. The Flannel mouth sucker and Roundtail chub have similar <br />habitat requirements as the Federally listed species (i.e., large, strongly flowing <br />perennial streams with pools, eddies, riffles, rapids, and flooded backwaters). Such <br />habitat requirements are not met in Dry Creek [o its confluence with the Yampa River. <br />The USFWS believes that major causes for the decline of the Federally listed and candidate <br />fishes include water depletion in the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basin. They have <br />• indicated that any such depletions will be considered by the Service as a negative impact. <br />Operation of the coal loadout facility has the potential to cause a net depletion in the <br />Tampa downstream of Dry Creek due to the retention of water in two previously constructed <br />sediment ponds and withdrawal of water from the Yampa River alluvium for consumptive use <br />(N-C Shallow Yell No. 1). Mitigation measures for this potential impact are presented in <br />Tab 21, Fish and Wildlife Plen. <br />Field reconnaissance and inspection of recent aerial photography did not reveal the <br />presence of, or indication of, prairie dogs within or adjacent to the permit area. Thus <br />[he Federally listed Black-footed ferret is not present, and direct or indirect impacts <br />will not occur to this species as a result of operating the loadout facility. <br />The Bald eagle is known to winter along the Yampa River. Bald eagles are known to fly up <br />to 18 miles from roost sites to feeding areas, and are frequently observed searching upland <br />habitats for prey or carrion. pl though no suitable breeding or roosting habitat, or <br />preferred foraging areas exist within or adjacent to the permit area, the potential exists <br />for a rare transient to cross the permit area. Golden eagles could rarely transit the <br />• permit area as well. The extremely remote possibility exists that such species could perch <br />15 Revised 03/01/93 <br />