REV103458 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Biological Assessment for DMG Permit Renewals McClane Canyon & Munger Canyon Mines small, north-flowing ephemeral side drainage dominated by big sagebrush. The remaining 10.5 acres of surface disturbance affects pinyon-juniper woodlands on primarily north-facing slopes of a Munger Creek side canyon. 5 SPECIES ACCOUNTS & IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTIONS The following subsections briefly describe each species considered by this BA, each species' regional habitat requirements, and the potential impacts on the species of the proposed actions. Rare Earth reviewed the current scientific literature on the evaluated species, spoke with agency personnel, and examined species and habitat distributions documented in spatial databases managed by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) and Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). 5.1 Birds The bald eagle (T) and Mexican spotted owl (T) are the only federally-listed birds potentially affected by the proposed actions. Yellow-billed cuckoo (C) and ferruginous hawk (S, SC) also potentially occur in the assessment areas. Bald eaole (T) in the conterminous U.S. was listed as endangered by USFWS in 1967 (USFWS 1967). Loss of habitat, shooting for feathers, and widespread use of the pesticide DDT are all thought to have contributed to the decline of this species; only 417 pairs were surveyed in the conterminous U.S. in 1963 (USFWS 2006a), down from several hundred thousand before the ~" arrival of Europeans on this continent. Since domestic use of DDT was banned in 1972, bald t eagle populations have increased dramatically, nearly doubling every 8 years. Approximately 6,500 pairs of bald eagles were recorded in the conterminous U.S. in 2000. In 2001, 45 resident pairs were recorded in Colorado, up from 11 pairs in 1990 (USFWS 2006a). The bald eagle was down-listed to threatened in 1995 (USFWS 1995), and proposed for de-listing in 1999 (USFWS 1999). On February 16, 2006, USFWS reopened the public comment period on delisting the bald eagle in the lower 48 states at Federal Register 71(32):8238-8251 and indicated that the bald eagle is considered recovered. No critical habitat has been designated for bald eagles. Bald eagles prefer coastal areas, rivers, or lakeshores with tall diurnal perches. In Colorado, bald eagles are rare summer breeders and common winter residents primarily in mountain parks and western river valleys (Andrews and Righter 1992). During the night, wintering bald eagles roost in tall trees, or occasionally, cliffs (Buehler 2000) up to 20 miles from foraging areas (Moynahan 2006). Bald eagles may select night roosts that offer protection from winter winds and where thermoclines provide warmer temperatures than foraging areas (Moynahan 2006; Buehler 2000). In daytime, eagles make foraging flights from night roosts, alighting on the ground to capture prey or feed on carrion and frequently resting in tall trees, or less commonly, on manmade structures. Fidelity to night roosts is low (Moynahan 2006). The Colorado River corridor around Fruita is mapped by CDOW as bald eagle winter foraging range (CDOW 2006b), and several bald eagles regularly occupy the Grand Valley in winter. No current or historic bald eagle nesting records exist for the upper East Salt Creek drainage. No bald eagle roosts or perch sites are documented or known to exist in or within one mile of the assessment areas. The Munger Creek and McClane Canyon drainages are ephemeral and not known to support preferred prey (fish or waterfowl), nor do suitable foraging habitats (open water and nearby open uplands) exist adjacent to the assessment areas. March 27, 2006 8 Rare Earth Science, LLC