Laserfiche WebLink
al. 1982). Extensive hedging on stands of rubber rabbitbrush indicated heavy over use of <br />rangeland and generally poor range condition. <br />Sources of surface water within the permit area are limited to stock tanks and Tallahassee Creek. <br />In addition to these sources, the Arkansas River is located immediately south of the southern <br />permit boundary. Within the permit area, Tallahassee Creek flows through a broad alluvial wash, <br />and is typically beset with little to no surface flow. A reformed hydrologic study in conjunction <br />with old high water lines and drift lines of vegetation debris indicate that Tallahassee Creek <br />experiences considerably higher flows during large runoff events. The average annual peak flows <br />would normally be expected to occur in May and early June because of snowmelt runoff and <br />during the summer months following heavy rainfall events within the watershed. <br />A rock outcrop cliff is present as a special habitat feature in the permit area. It is located on the <br />east side of the small ridge neaz in the north-central portion of the permit area. Rock outcrops <br />and cliffs serve as important habitat features for species such as yellow-bellied marmot, rock <br />squirrel, bushy-tailed woodrat, and swallows. Ledges and cavities in cliff areas can provide <br />suitable nesting habitat for cliff-nesting raptor such as red-tailed hawk, prairie falcon, golden <br />eagle, and great horned owl. The cliff area was scanned using binoculars and a spotting scope <br />(20-45x), and no evidence of raptor nesting activity (stick nests or whitewash) was located. One <br />rock crevice appeared to contain a woodrat nest. <br />Wildlife Populations <br />Use of common names for wildlife species follows Fitzgerald et al. (1994) for mammals, <br />American Ornithologists' Union (1983 and subsequent supplements) for birds, and Hammerson <br />and Langlois (1981) for reptiles and amphibians. <br />Fl'sheries <br />According to Duane Finch (CDOW), brown trout move up Tallahassee Creek from the Arkansas <br />River to spawn in portions of Tallahassee Creek upstream of the pemut area. The narrow canyon <br />segments of Tallahassee Creek upstream of the permit area as well as portions of Kern and <br />Cottonwood creeks near their confluences with Tallahassee Creek support a self sustaining trout <br />fishery (Finch, personal communication 11/97). Based on the habitat conditions observed by <br />several parties along Tallahassee Creek within the permit area, trout could only use this portion <br />of the creek for seasonal movement to and from the Arkansas River and fisheries habitat <br />upstream of the permit area in the Tallahassee, Cottonwood, and Kem Creeks. The reach of <br />Tallahassee Creek through the permit area is typically a dry creek bed during the summer and <br />fall months. Lass of surface flow within the creek is due to seasonal reductions in water supply <br />as snowmelt concludes, as well as diversions and water draws occurring upstream of the permit <br />area. The reach of Tallahassee Creek passing through the permit area would be insufficient to <br />support ayear-round fishery. <br />Big Game <br />Mule deer, bighorn sheep, black bear, and mountain lion are the only big game animals likely to <br />be found in the permit area. Field surveys by Cedar Creek (4/97) documented the presence of <br />mule deer. As indicated previously, mule deer pellets were relatively common on the <br />Front Range Aggregates, LLC- Par/ulale Quarry <br />DMG !!2 Permit Amendment <br />Page 29 <br />