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~v~~~~ United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ~,~~ ~ ~,•" Ecological Services Colorado Fieid Office 7SS Parfet Street, Suite 361 Lakewood, Colorado 80215 IN REPLY REFER TO: ES/C0: T&E/PMJM Mail Stop 65412 JUL 1 7 2000 Steve Dougherty ERO Resources 1842 Clarkson Street - __.____ Denyer, CO 8021$_ . --- _ _-__ __._ _~. _~_---__.-- -- . --.. _ Dear Mr. Dougherty: Based on the authori conferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (tyAct), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1 S31 et seg.), the Service has reviewed your recent submittal on behalf of the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District regazding a proposed "block clearance" for the federally-listed threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse, Zappus . hudsonius preblei, (Preb1e's) within a designated portion of the Denver metro area. The Sernce concurs with your conclusion that desrg~ahon of a "block clearance" zone, as you have proposed and depicted on the map of May 16, 2000, which was included with your submittal, is appropnate. A "block-clearance" zone is one m which the Service has detem~ined that the species in question is no longer likely to exist. The Service's Interim Survey Guidelines for the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse (May 2I, 1999) recommend that habitat assessments of [tapping surveys be conducted m potentially sortable habitats in the affected counties to assure compliance wtth the ESA. In designating a block clearance zone the Service eliminates the need for individuals or agencies to coordmate with the Service prior to conducting activities in habitats that otherwise would be deemed to have potential to supppoR Preble's. The establishment of this block clearance zone is based on the likely absence of Preble's within the area and in no way precludes the Service from designating critical habitat within this zone. However, there currently appears little likelihood that the area would include rivers, streams, or riparian areas that are cndra7 habitat, or that would be of importance in any future plan to recover of the species. The Service bases this clearance on a series of factors that were evaluated in out proposal. They include numerous negative kapEing surveys and habitat assessments within this area m recent years. Since 1997, well over 300 trappings surveys within rite area faired-tort cate~rebie's. In addition to review by the Service, the proposed clearance was reviewed by biologists from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, members of the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Technical Working Group, the Colorado Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Science Advisory Team, and the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Recovery Team. Effective the date of this letter, the block clearance zone will be in effect for a period of 3 years. After three years the Service wili review the clearance, an additional information, and renew the clearance as deemed appropriate. Based on additional information, the clearance zone maybe expanded or adjusted penodreally. We plan to have maps of the block clearance zone available on our web site (www.r6.fws.gov/preble) and at our office.