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Coulson Excavating Company, Inc. -Stroh Gravel Pit Exhibit H -Wildlife Information Potential Effects The proposed PMJM habitat conservation measures described below are part of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) being submitted to the USFWS. These measures will increase the amount of high quality PMJM foraging habitat. They will also increase the amount of habitat available for many other wildlife species associated with the Big Thompson River riparian condor and the amount of nesting habitat for grassland birds that require significant amounts of cover. Available nesting habitat for upland nesting waterfowl such as mallard and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) would also be increased. The proposed water storage ponds will increase available habitat for waterfowl and other semi-aquatic species. The proposed PMJM habitat conservation measures will decrease the amount of potential habitat for those grassland species that prefer short spazse vegetation such as horned lazk, mountain plover, and black-tailed prairie dog. Mitigation The project will avoid and minimize effect to wildlife resources by: • Avoiding riparian corridors ^ Restricting operating times to avoid periods of deer peak activity, and ^ Minimizing the increase of human activity in the project vicinity. The mine plan (Exhibit D) includes the following measures that minimize effects to PMJM and increase the amount of high quality PMJM foraging habitat: • Grazing and hay mowing on the mine site will cease prior to the start of mining. This will allow the restoration of vegetative cover and increase PMJM habitat suitability on the proposed permit area. • A 100-ft wide buffer will be established between the currently suitable habitat and the pit boundary. This area will be planted with native species similaz to those occurring in the Big Thompson River riparian corridor bordering the north edge of the mine area. This will restore PMJM habitat adjacent to the currently suitable habitat. This buffer will not be disturbed by mining activities. Thus 8.9 ac of currently unsuitable and low quality habitat will be restored and permanently available to PMJM. • A 200-ft wide strip along the north pit is divided into 14 cells. One of these cells will be mined each winter during the period November 1st to March 15th. Once mining is complete in a cell, it will be restored to original surface elevations and native grass seed mixture will be planted. This should allow vegetative cover suitable for PMJM to be restored by the time PMJM emerge from hibernation in late May. Irrigation will be used as necessary to ensure that suitable PMJM habitat is restored. After mining is complete this 200-ft wide strip will result in approximately 19.2 ac of permanently restored PMJM habitat. The above habitat conservation measures have received verbal approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the basis for a PMJM HCP at Stroh Pit (Linder, 2002). A detailed HCP is currently being prepared along with an Environmental Assessment. Once complete these documents will be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Once H:\Stroh\word\DMG\Exhibit H a.doc