Laserfiche WebLink
B. 1'he Division has previously approved the use of straw mulch as a means to meet <br />soil stabilization requirements. Straw will be applied at a rate of two tons per acre <br />and secured by crimping or tacking (4.15.4). <br />IX. Protection of Fish, Wildlife, and Related Environmental Values <br />Wildlife information is found in the permit application in Sections 2.04 and 2.05, Map <br />No. 2 ] ,and Exhibit No. 15. <br />The Eaglt: Mines permit area is located within a pinon-juniper, sagebrush vegetation <br />range. Diverse wildlife habitat is present, including cropland, rolling hills, steep slopes, <br />rock outcrops, streams, river bottom and oxbow lakes. <br />This area is considered by the Colorado Division of Wildlife to be a key use area for <br />mule deer. Elk also use the area. Predators known to be present include cougar, coyote, <br />red fox and bobcat. Small game and fur-bearing mammals observed include the <br />cottontail rabbit, white-tailed jack rabbit, raccoon, beaver, muskrat, striped skunk, and <br />weasel. Numerous other small mammals, as well as many species of birds, are also <br />found within the permit area. Of special interest are various species of waterfowl, <br />raptors, including the golden eagle and bald eagle, the sandhill crane, and the sage <br />grouse. Fish species collected in the Williams Fork River within the permit azea during <br />a 1979 study include various suckers and minnows, mottled scuplin, rainbow trout and <br />mountain whitefish. <br />The potential exists for the following state or federally listed threatened or endangered <br />species or species of concern to be found within the permit area: golden and bald eagle, <br />greater sandhill crane, peregrine falcon, and black footed ferret. RAG Empire <br />Corporation has committed to reporting any sightings of rare or endangered species to <br />the Division. The report will include species identification, date of sighting, and the <br />general area in which the species was sighted (Section 2.05 of the permit applicationj. <br />Table 41 in the permit application states that golden eagles and bald eagles aze <br />uncommon migrants. However, consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />indicates that there are golden eagle nests within the permit boundary. All of the nests <br />lie in areas that are not proposed for surface disturbance. However, there is a need to <br />establish buffer zones azound the nests so that if expansion requires additional surface <br />disturbance, the nests will be protected. To satisfy this requirement Stipulation No. 4 <br />was previ<>usly attached to the permit, restricting surface to disturbances in certain areas <br />to certain times of the year. These restrictions have been incorporated into Section 4.01 <br />of the perrni[ and therefore Stipulation No. 4 was withdrawn. <br />The potential exists for the Colorado squawfish, a federally listed endangered species, to <br />inhabit sections of the Williams Fork and Yampa rivers. No Colorado squawfish were <br />observed during the quarterly 6sh and benthic organism survey that was conducted by <br />the applicant in selected sections of the Williams Fork river for a period of two and <br />one-half yr~azs. This study demonstrated that the mining operation was not impacting <br />the fish or benthic invertebrate biotas of the Williams Fork River. <br />32 <br />