2005-02-10_REVISION - M1978314 - Laserfiche WebLink

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processing plant, asphalt plant, and concrete plant. The petitioner indicated that there will not be any designated chemicals or acid-producing materials that will be used or stored on site. EXISTING WH.DLIFE & HABITAT CONDITIONS: GENERAL COMMENTS: King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine is located in rural South Routt County. The area is primarily agricultural rangeland, which also provides a large and relatively undisturbed landscape for wildlife. The existing pit has created soil and vegetation disturbance that has resulted in habitat loss and reduced habitat value at that immediate location. Habitat fragmentation has occurred on a very limited scale. County roads bisect the property on the south and border it to the west. These county roads receive very light vehicular traffic as only a few residences and ranches are scattered throughout the area. The majority of the habitat near the proposed project is predominantly sagebrush-grass rangeland. The plant community is comprised primarily of mountain big sagebrush and wheatgrass. Other species include rabbitbrush, junegrass, bluegrass, smooth brome and fescue. The sagebrush communities around Toponas and up onto Five Pines Mesa constitute some of the best remaining sage-grouse habitat in Southem Routt and Northern Eagle Counties. There are also some minor riparian areas on the proposed site that are associated with Smith and Egeria Creeks which converge on the south end of the property. Sagebrush communities in Southem Routt County provide valuable habitats for numerous species. The fallowing list identifies a few of those species; however, this list is not intended to be all-inclusive. MAMMALS • Elk, mule deer, mountain lion, coyote, red fox, badger, white-tailed jackrabbit, Wyoming ground squirrel, sagebrush vole, etc. BIRDS • Greater Sage-Grouse, Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, Great-Horned Owl, Red- tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, Brewers Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Black-Billed Magpie, etc. REPTILES • Western terrestrial arter snake Currently, there are no known wildlife species that have been identified as a threatened or endangered species by the CDOW or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that regularly use the habitats on and adjacent to the proposed pit. A few species warrant specific attention due to other species designations. Elk and mule deer are both species of economic importance and the proposed project is part of the overall summer range and transition range for these species. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse are listed as Species of Special Concern by the CDOW. While Northwestern Colorado boasts one of the best sharp-tailed grouse populations across its range, Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse have been declining across their range and have been extirpated from large parts of its former range. On October 14, 2004, the USFWS was petitioned to list the bird as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This petition is currently under review. The King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine is located within winter range and overall range for Columbian Sharp- tailed Grouse and lies towards the southwest edge of the largest production complex for sharp-tailed grouse in southern Routt County. Greater Sage Grouse are listed as a Species of Special Concem by the CDOW. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has received multiple petitions to list the Greater Sage-Grouse as threatened or endangered. On April 15, 2004, the USFWS released a 90-Day finding that determined that "substantial biological information exists to warrant a more in-depth examination of the status of the Greater Sage-