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systems and open la~e, or arid valleys and mesas. ~od availability is probably the most significant factor which determines the wintering eagles' distribution and abundance in any given area. Eagles utilize carrion food such as deer, cattle, sheep, antelope, road-killed cottontails and jackrabbits. Live food sources include mice, jackrabbits, woodrate, gophers, cottontails, kangaroo rats, and fish. Bald eagles primarily inhabit portions of San Miguel and Ouray Counties during the winter. Important wintering areas include the lower reaches of the San Miguel and Uncompahgre rivers. Wintering sites on the Uncompahgre River are generally from Ridgeway downstream. Known wintering areas in San Miguel County are in the Norwood area, and to the west. Most bald eagles in this area are utilizing the agricultural lands on mesas adjacent to the river corridor. There are no known nesting or wintering sites located anywhere on the Forest. The proposed action may utilize cottonwood trees with rootwads for structural work. However, the proposed project area is not located within any known or historical bald eagle nesting or wintering habitat. Therefore, the proposed action will have no effect upon the bald eagle or upon any suitable habitat for this species. Mexican spotted owl - St occidentalie lucida threatened species The Mexican spotted owl is one of three sub-species of spotted owls found in North America. The Mexican spotted owl is found from southern Utah and Colorado through Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas into the mountains of central Mexico. It is generally associated with higher elevation forested habitats in the southern portion of its range, and in canyons with mixed conifer and rock ledges in the north. Suitable habitat in Colorado includes, but is not limited to: 1) moderately closed to closed canopy forest, generally greater than 70 percent closure in mixed conifer and 60 percent closure in pine/oak and ponderosa pine forest types; 2) multi-storied stands containing several canopy layers; 3) mixed conifer, Douglas-fir/white fir, ponderosa pine, or pine with a dense Gamble oak or other hardwood understory are preferred forest types; and 4) physiographic habitat types which may possess steep slopes, rocky canyons, rock wall canyons, or slick rock canyons. The forest habitat types typically possess standing dead and down woody material and often have a component of large trees. The canyon habitat types may have mixed conifer vegetation on the north facing slopes with open pine/juniper on south facing slopes and a riparian canyon bottom. Canyons may also have a limited mixed conifer, oak, or riparian bottom with shrubs or shrub-sized trees on the slopes. Suitable foraging habitat may include pinyon/juniper habitat types in addition to more open stands of the above habitats. Numerous surveys have been conducted to determine the distribution of the Mexican spotted owl throughout its range. Southern Colorado and Utah appear to be at the northern end of its known distribution. Mexican spotted owls have been located in south central Colorado and in Mesa Verde National Park. In Utah they have been located in Zion and Canyonlands National Parks, and on the Monti-LaSal and Dixie National Forests. Suitable habitat is present within the upper San Miguel River canyons. Surveys conducted within San Miguel County by the USFS, BLM, CDOW, and private consultants have included canyon habitat within the San Miguel 14