2006-12-18_REVISION - M1978314 (3)

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EXISTING WII,DLIF'E & 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 lazge 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 aze scattered throughout the azea. 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 rabbitbmsh, 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 Southern 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 southern Routt County provide valuable habitats for numerous species. The following list identifies a few of those species; however, this list is not intended to beall-inclusive. MAMMALS • .Elk, mule deer, mountain lion, coyote, red fox, badger, white-tailed jackrabbit, Wyoming ground squirrel, sagebrush vole, etc. 1BII2DS Greater Sage-Grouse, Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, Great-Horned Owl, Red- tailedHawk, Golden Eagle, Brewers Sparrow, Lazk Sparrow, Black-Billed Magpie, etc. REPTII,ES • 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 regulazly 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 aze both species of economic importance and the proposed project is part of the overall summer and transitions range for these species. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse aze listed as Species of Special Concern by the CDOW. Northwestern Colorado boasts one of the best sharp-tailed grouse populations across its range. However, these grouse have declined across their range and are extinct in large parts of it. 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 & Grave] Mine is located within winter range and overall range for Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and lies towards the southwest edge of the lazgest production complex for sharp-tailed grouse in southern Routt County. Greater Sage Grouse are listed as a Species of Special Concern 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-Crrouse." With this fmding, the USFWS began a full status review to determine whether to list the Greater Sage-Grouse as threatened or endangered. In a decision announced in 7anuary, the USFWS concluded the sage grouse does not warrant listing at this time. The King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine is located within the heart of some of the last remaining quality Greater Sage-Grouse habitat in southern Routt County. Critical habitats found on and immediately adjacent to the proposed project include breeding habitat and production azeas (leks/strutting