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I • J.E. Stover & Associates, Inc September 3, 2007 Page 5 The Blue Ribbon Mine permit area lies approximately 0.75 mile north of bald eagle winter foraging range and 1.5 mile north of a bald eagle winter concentration area mapped by CDOW in the North Fork River corridor (Figure 3). The mine permit area features rimrock ledges and several tall cottonwoods that may provide attractive hunting roosts or roosts for bald eagles. However, given the high-quality habitat available to bald eagles on the North Fork River, which provides their preferred prey (fish and waterfowl), and given the availability of aseveral-mile-long stretch of cottonwood galleries and potential roosts in the North Fork River bottom, it is likely that bald eagles occur only infrequently within the Blue Ribbon Mine boundary. The lands within the Blue Ribbon Mine boundary contribute only peripherally to sustaining wintering bald eagle populations in the North Fork valley. Water depletion in the upper Colorado River basin resulting from evaporation from the mine's sediment ponds could potentially affect bald eagle winter foraging habitat. The effects of water depletion would depend on the extent that forage fish habitat is affected by the mine's water consumption. Nevertheless, because fish do not form the sole prey base for bald eagles in the North Fork valley, the water consumption occurring as a result of the renewal of the Blue Ribbon Mine permit is not likely to cause measurable effects on bald eagles. Canada Ivnx The Canada lynx was listed as a threatened species in 2000 at Federal Register 65(58):16051- 16086. Although never abundant, lynx have historically occurred in appropriate habitat in upper • montane and subalpine zones throughout central Colorado.16 Re-introductions of lynx in the state have met with some success, with CDOW reporting about 47 percent survivorship and moderate to high reproductivity (23 possible mating pairs} of the 204 animals released since 1999." Designated critical habitat for lynx is currently being proposed at Federal Register 70(216):68294-68328 by USFWS in portions of Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Although no designated critical habitat for lynx is being proposed in Colorado, USES and other federal agencies have identified lynx habitat statewide based on vegetation data, including denning, winter foraging, and other lynx habitat. Agencies have also designated Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) which generally correspond to watersheds, cover an area large enough to sustain an entire lynx home range, and are used for landscape-level planning and impact analysis.18 Lynx habitat linkage areas have also been identified, and represent areas of essential connectivity between large blocks of mapped suitable lynx habitat. None of the Blue Ribbon Mine permit area falls within the mapped LAUs on USFS lands. Primary lynx habitat in Colorado includes coniferous forests of spruce and fir or lodgepole pine. Secondary habitat consists of aspen or Douglas-fir mixed with primary coniferous habitat, between 8,000 and 11,500 feet elevation.18 Lynx typically forage in uneven-aged forests with shrubs or small trees that provide habitat for snowshoe hares, their primary prey. Small forest openings with low cover enhance foraging habitat, although lynx mostly avoid openings larger than several acres. 'e Seidel, J., Antlree, B., Berlinger, S., Buell, K., Byrne, G., Gill, B., Kerwin, D., Reetl, D.. 1998. Draft strategy for [he conservation and reestablishment of lynz antl wolverine in the southern rocky mountains. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver, Colorado. '~ Shenk, T. 2006 (Colorado Division of Wildlife Biologist). 2006. Lynz update, March 12. Available at http:/lwiltllife.state.co. us/NR/rdonlyre5/432BB4E3-271 F-0A10-904F-E6288B9CF1 E7/OlLynxUpdateMar122006.pdf. 'a Ruetliger, Bill, Jim Claar, Steve Gniatlek, Bryon Bolt, Lyle Lewis, Steve Mighton, Bob Naney, Gary Patton, Tony Rinaldi, Joel Trick, Anne Vandehey. Fretl Wahl, Nancy Warren, Dick Wenger, antl AI Williamson. 2000. Canada lynx conservation assessment antl strategy. • 2nd Etl. USDA Forest Service, USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, and USDI National Park Service. Missoula Montana. ® Rare Earth Science, LLC