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the Minnesota Creek road receives a high amouut of vehicle use. Thus, elk in the area <br />have habituated to the presence of vehiculaz and human activity and the noise associated <br />with both. <br />Project activities will not impact elk reproductive behavior. Long term and cumulative <br />impacts on elk will not occru. This project will not impact the viability of the species. <br />Abert's Squirrel: <br />Abert's squirrels are ecologically dependent on ponderosa pines for both nesting sites and <br />food. Thus they are restricted to open montane forests (Fitzgerald et al. 1994). The <br />proposed project would not occur within or neaz late succession ponderosa pine. <br />According to the 1988 Dominant Cover Type Map included in the 2001 MIS assessment <br />for Abert's squiael (USES 2001 a), no ponderosa pine is located within miles of the <br />Protect Ana <br />Tyre Project Area does not provide any suitable habitat for Abert's squirrels. <br />Consequently, there would be no impact on Abert's squirrels or their habitat as a result <br />of the proposed Action. <br />American marten: American marten were discussed in the BE section of this report. <br />Northern goshawk: Nordrem goshawk was discussed in the BE section of this report <br />Brewer's sparrow: Brewer's sparrow was discussed in the BE section of this report. <br />Merriam's wild turkey: This bird inhabits mountains and high-elevation mesas <br />throughout the region. These birds aze commonly seen in the North Fork Valley and <br />have been observed neaz the project area. <br />The project area does provide suitable habitat for the turkey, but only 3 to 4 acres will be <br />disturbed by activities associated with the proposed Vent Shaft project. The project is <br />located immediately adjacent W the Mumesota Creek Road, which already receives a <br />high amount of vehicle use. Project activities will not impact Meaiam's turkey <br />reproductive behavior. Long terns and cumulative impacts on Merriam's turkey will not <br />occur. This project will not impact the viability of the species. <br />R~-Waged sapsucker: Red-Waged sapsuckers are found in mature aspen stands <br />throughout the area_ These birds were observed in all aspen stands in the area and in <br />aspen stands throughout the North Fork Valley. <br />Some suitable nesting habitat will be lost when aspens are removed for constmction of <br />the access road and pad area. However, there will be less than four acres of disturbance <br />and considering the amount of available habitat in neazby aspen stands and in the North <br />Fork Valley this will be minor. While individual birds or pans could be disturbed, effects <br />to the popuhrtion from this proposal would be imperceptible. <br />18 <br />