2004-11-09_REVISION - M2000016 (4)

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FORT LUPTON PROPERTIES PREBLE'S MEADOW IUMPMG MOUSE SURVEY northwest of the town of Brighton, west of Highway 85. Weld County Road 6 borders the property to the south, State Highway 52 borders it to the north, the South Platte River borders it to the east, and Weld County Road 23 borders it to the west. UTM coordinates (approximate center): UTM Zone 134434000mN and 514000 mE. Elevation: Average elevation is about 4906 feet above sea level. Soils: Aquolls and Aquents gravel substrate, and Bankard sandy loam (USSCS 1980). Hydrology: Big Dry Creek, several small ditches, and the South Platte River run through the properties. Project Description The proposed project consists of the potential excavation of the sand and gravel resources on portions of the properties within the study area. Methods ERO conducted the trapping survey using the methods outlined in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Survey Guidelines, revised April 2004. A total of 1,325 trap nights were completed over 4 nights from June 14 through June 19, 2004, with 325 to 350 traps being set each night. Five trapping areas were defined: Groups 2 and 5 were located along the riparian corridors of big Dry Creek; Groups 1 and 4 were placed along the riparian vegetation of the South Platte River; and Group 3 was located along an irrigation ditch that runs through the properties (Figure 2). Table 1 lists exact locations for each group. Traps were spaced at ]0-meter intervals with increased trap density in the best available habitat. All trap lines were set up along stands of willows, riparian understory, and herbaceous habitat that bordered the water sources.