PERMFILE72863

• Permit No: M2000077
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Name: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT MULE CREEK GRAVEL PIT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

' Mule Creek Gravel Pit ~ironmental Assessment . Page 33
Colorado, the projected site and adjacent areas do not offer neither nesting nor preferred
hunting habitat for this species.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Federal status: Threatened; Colorado status:
Threatened. The presence of Bald eagles in Colorado is limited to roosting in the winter,
' usually in open and closed canopy cottonwood stands and in isolated stands of conifer
along the Eagle River. There is no evidence of Bald eagle nest sites, winter roost sites, or
high use areas in or near the proposed site.
Mexican Spotted Owl (Strir occidentalis lucida). Federal status: Threatened; Colorado
status: Threatened. Mexican spotted owl can be found in a variety of habitats in the
t Colorado Front Range, including steep-sided canyons with old growth mixed conifer
forests, and shady and cool canyons of the pinon juniper zone. The absence of
coniferous forest and narrow canyon habitat in the projected site excludes the potential
' occurrence of this species. -
Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas boreas). Federal status: Candidate; Colorado status:
' Endangered. This is a declining amphibian species in high wetland and moist azeas in
Colorado. Boreal toads require very specific breeding habitats, including open water with
no strong current, and marshes. It has been federally listed as "warranted but precluded"
since March 1995. Its occurrence in Teller County has never been registered and the
proposed site does not offer the habitat conditions to support boreal toads.
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) has been proposed for listing as threatened, under
' the Endangered Species Act (Dec. 1998). It is expected that during 2000 the decision to
list the lynx as a threatened species, endangered species or not to list the lynx at all, will
' be made. If listing occurs, all activities and projects that potentially affect the lynx must
be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and will be subject to Section 7
consultation. In this study, we are.considering the lynx as threatened species under the
' ESA, given the high likelihood that the lynx will be listed.
The Canada lyrix is the only lynx in North America, and lives primarily in coniferous
forests, in northern latitudes and high mountains, although it may use rangelands or
' transition areas between rangelands and mountain forests for food. Their main diet
consists of snowshoe haze, but also includes other small mammals and birds.
' Although the Canada lynx is considered raze in Colorado and there is no indication of its
presence in the Pikes Peak region, there are areas on and surrounding Pikes Peak that aze
' considered potential habitat for lynx. This assumption is based on the high-predicted
probability of snowshoe haze habitat in the Pikes Peak area, which is an indicator species
for the presence of lynx in the region within the comdor.
' However, the potential for lynx habitat in the proposed project site is minimal because of
the absence of lynx habitat requirements.
Species identified as sensitive by the USDA Forest Service R2 Regional Forester aze
those plants and animals that meet the following conditions:
1
' Hydrosphere Resowce Consultants, 1002 Waln W Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80302