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• (Castor canadensis) ponds occur along Hubberson Gulch, and along an unnamed tributary in <br />Sections 26 and 27. Vegetation found in bottomland consists of flood-tolerant or water- <br />obligate grasses, grass-likes, and fortis. These included bluegrasses (Poa spp.), sedges (Carex <br />spp.), and cattails (Typha latifolia). Woody species in bottomland included snowberry, aspen, <br />and limited areas of willow (Salix spp.). <br />METHODS <br />Prior to conducting fieldwork, PRES biologist B. Postovit contacted T. Ireland with <br />USFWS in Grand Junction. Mr. Ireland provided a copy of the boreal toad conservation plan <br />(Loeffler 1998) to assist in planning fieldwork. It was agreed that three surveys on the <br />expansion area would be conducted--the first in late April, the second in late May, and the <br />third in mid-June. Adult toads emerge from hibernation as snowmelt occurs. Owing in part <br />to warm April weather, and also to the relatively modest elevation of the expansion area, <br />snowmelt was complete on the survey area by mid-April. Breeding and egg-laying takes place <br />shortly afrer emergence, and eggs hatch one to two weeks later (Loeffler 1998). Thus, the <br />• survey timing was scheduled to cover adult emergence, egg-laying, and tadpole presence. <br />Surveys were conducted by B. Postovit and H. Postovit on 27 April and 22 May, and <br />by B. Postovit on 12 June. On all three days, surveys consisted of diurnal searches of all slow <br />or ponded water habitat. An additional nocturnal survey was conducted on 22 May, with the <br />aid of headlamps, flashlights, and ahand-held 500,000-candlepower spotlight. During all <br />surveys, searchers slowly walked the perimeter of ponds, looking for adults, egg strings, and <br />tadpoles. Standard field guides (Baxter and Stone 1980, Stebbins 1985) were used for <br />identification. All wildlife species encountered were recorded. The clarity of water, nature of <br />substrate, and condition of shorelines was noted. <br />RESULTS <br />Photographs depicting the range and nature of aquatic habitat on the expansion area are <br />provided in Appendix I. <br /> <br />Seneca iI-W South Expansion <br />1999 Boreal Toad Survey Page 4 <br />