2006-12-18_REVISION - M1978314 (3)

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King Mountain Sand and Gravel Mine Ecological Resources Assessment Page 16 6.0 IMPACTS ANALYSIS 6.1 Overall Habitat Values In addition to the greater sage grouse, there are several other wildlife species of concern that likely inhabit the Project site. Except for the sagebrush vole, these other species of concern are largely restricted to the Montane Riparian Shrubland, Graminoid Wetland and Aguatic habitats on the property. The riparian shrubland has willow communities ranked as vulnerable (G3/S3) by C[VHP. Wetland acreage is estimated aC 33.51. The sage grouse will also use the wetland habitats, particularly in late summer and fall. These wetland habitats are not directly impacted by mine operations on the dry terrace tops. CDOW has rightly focused on the impacts to the Sagebrush Shrubland that is directly impacted from mine operations. However, [he wetland habitats obviously have significant ecological value and should be considered worthy of preservation. 6.2 Greater Sage Grouse CDOW Project related comments focus primarily on the sage grouse, and only secondarily on the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. The sage grouse is therefore the focus of this impacts analysis. A lek is located approximately 1/4 mile to the northwest of the property. The ProJec[ site is a known brood rearing area as well. CDOW began aradio-collar study in [he fall of 2003, continuing into 2004. This study has confirmed the extensive, year round use of the Project site and adjacent areas. Sage grouse have been documented by CDOW in the immediate area dating back to the 1950's. The local population in southern Routt County and northern Eagle County has been considered in a state of decline since the late 1950's. Due [o [his concern, CDOW has completed a local conservation plan (CDOW 2004). Several other local plans have been completcd in northwest Colorado, and a state wide plan is being assembled. All of these plans do not definitively identify the cause of the long term population decline. The South Routt/North Eagle plan identified 33 possible causes, which were subsequently consolidated into 10 primary issues. The Federal Register notice describes population declines over most of [he sage grouse range in [he western United States, and also does not identify with any significant degree of confidence the cause of the declines (Federal Register 2004). Given [his situation, CDOW has elected to build a conservation strategy based upon broad categories of passible concerns, and develop conservation actions to address the concerns. Monitoring and evaluation of conservation actions, coupled with further population monitoring, is intended [o provide future direction and priorities. Mining is not identified as a cause of population declines in the South Routt/North Eagle plan. The mine operation has been present since 1978. According to Mike Jones, [he Mine Manager, the grouse have been observed sheltering from the elements under the truck scale at [he mine entrance, and even in [he bottom of the mine pit. The grouse have obviously persisted in the area despite the presence of the mine over a 28 year period. Given that [he determining factors for range wide population declines in the western United States are not known, [ha[ mining has not been identified as one of the primary causes of the population decline, and that grouse have persisted on Five Pine Mesa near the mine, a sensible mine mitigation plan should be adequate for [he protection of [he local grouse population. 6,3 Objector Letters DRMS received three letters of objection in June of 2006. The letters request a reconsideration of the conversion of the 110 permit to the 112 permit. The basis for the objections primarily relate [o potential off-site impacts of the mine operation. Objections also reference impacts [o the sage