Laserfiche WebLink
Topaz Mine Permit Expansion: Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species Evaluation <br />Vegetation in the project area primarily consists of juniper woodland (Photo 1). Bunchgrasses <br />are the most abundant herbaceous vegetation, including blue grams and galleta grass. <br />Common shrub species are ephedra, black sagebrush, shadscale, gray rabbitbrush, and broom <br />snakeweed. Thistles occur along roadsides, and species could not be determined because of <br />the lateness of the growing season. <br />Ephemeral drainages exist along the east and west boundaries (Figures 1 and 2; Photos 2 and <br />3). The drainages run only during heavy precipitation events and do not support riparian <br />vegetation. No seeps or springs exist on or near the site. <br />4.0 SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES <br />Special status species evaluated in this report include <br />• Federally threatened or endangered species <br />BLM Colorado sensitive species <br />• Noxious weeds (BLM concern) <br />Federally listed and candidate species were identified by consulting the USFWS Region 6 list <br />for San Miguel County of listed and candidate species, updated December 2006 <br />(http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/endspp/CountyLists/COLORADO.htm, accessed March 21, <br />2007). BLM Colorado sensitive species were identified from the BLM Colorado Sensitive <br />Species List (August 2000) and previous consultation with the San Juan Public Lands Dolores <br />Field Office on similar projects. <br />The following federally listed and candidate species on the USFWS list for San Miguel County <br />were excluded from further evaluation because no suitable habitat occurs in or near the permit <br />expansion area and the species would not be affected by the project: <br />• Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) (endangered): requires grassland/shrubland habitat <br />and large prairie dog colonies. Black-footed ferrets are not known to occur in San Miguel <br />County, and no extensive prairie dog colonies are present in or near the project area. <br />• Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) (threatened): requires subalpine and montane forests <br />• Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) (endangered): USFWS no longer <br />considers this taxon to breed in San Miguel County; requires riparian habitat. <br />Western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis) (candidate): requires law <br />elevation cottonwood riparian forest or similar mature deciduous forests. <br />• Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly (Boloria acrocnema) (endangered): requires alpine tundra <br />above 13,000 feet elevation. <br />The remaining federally listed and candidate species on the USFWS list for San Miguel County <br />were carried forward for evaluation in this report, and are shown in Table 1. For BLM sensitive <br />species, we reviewed habitat requirements and known distribution data, and evaluated potential <br />project impacts for those species that could potentially be affected by the proposed project <br />(Table 1). <br />B/O-Logic Environmental <br />March 27, 2007 <br />