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Color infrared aerial photographs taken in 1981 reveal a total of about 8.1 acres of vegetated wetland appearing in narrow, discontinuous stretches throughout the 3.0 miles of potentially affected downstream channel. In the lease area itself, approximately 5,000 feet of channel supports about 1.3 wetland acres. Conspicuous wetland associations appear confined to lower stream terraces, overflow channels and oxbows. Since Red Wash normally flows only in response to snow melt or rainfall, it is likely that wetland associations are maintained strictly by periodic flooding of the channel and alluvial saturation. Range-Domestic Livestock Use The principle use of the application area is for spring sheep use. The area Lies within the Red Wash allotment. Wildlife A comprehensive List of animals known to inhabit the LMU area has been compiled by Western Fuels-Utah as part of their mine plan application (Volume 3). This information is also tabulated in the BLM's WRRA Unit Resource Analysis--Rangely Planning Unit. Both documents are available at the White River Resource Area office, Heeker, Colorado. As many as 120 birds, 60 mammals, 10 reptiles, and 2 amphibians make use of habitats available on the LNU and lease application area. Only those animals or habitats that may be significantly affected by lease development, or which are of state/federal concern will be discussed. Hule deer are the only big game species making appreciable use of the application area. Low density deer use is most prevalent during the spring, fall, and winter months. The few mature cottonwood trees which exist in the incised channel of Red Wash normally hosts a nesting pair of American kestrel, and in the past, red-tailed hawk. However, based on inspection of color aerial photographs, cottonwoods do not appear to be present on the Lease tract. Typical nongame birds inhabiting Red Wash's riparian association include blue-gray gnatcatcher, loggerhead shrike, and rufous-sided towhee. Hany of the furbearing game and nongame animals present in the area inhabit subsurface burrows or dens for nesting, rearing of young or shelter. This group is represented by such species as burrowing owl, weasels, skunks, badger, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, lizards, and snakes. Burrowing owls, a migratory species of high federal interest, normally occupy prairie dog burrows in this area. Although prairie dogs are not thought to inhabit the lease tract (see following section), prairie dogs do exist adjacent to this tract on WF-U's LMU area - - and represent suitable owl habitat. Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Prairie dog towns, as potential habitat for the black-footed ferret, are widely distributed throughout the Red Wash Basin, but none are known to exist on the proposed lease tract (inventoried in Large part by BLM, 5-3-85). The only evidence of prairie dog occupation in the 9