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watershed, but no Mexican spotted owls have been located to date. A complete survey of the South Fork canyon and lower Main Fork was completed in 1994 for the Galloping Goose Trail project, and no Mexican spotted awls were located. The proposed action will not have any direct effects upon suitable habitat within the upper San Miguel canyon. All activities are located within the river channel and floodplain. Based upon the lack of known species occurrence or impact to any suitable habitat, the proposed action will have no effect upon the Me:ican spotted owl. Southwestern willow flycatcher - ~pidonaz traillii eztimie endangered species The southwestern willow flycatcher is one of five subspecies of the willow flycatcher currently recognized. As a group, willow flycatchers breed throughout most of the United States, and migrate to Mexico and Central America for the winter. The breeding range of the southwestern subspecies includes southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, southwestern Colorado, and extreme northwestern Mexico. Critical habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher has not yet been designated. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has defined suitable habitat within its range in Colorado to include riparian shrub vegetation at least 30 feet wide, 30 feet long, and 5 feet high which is located on streams with 4Z gradients or less, up to 8,500 feet in elevation. Survey protocol has been established, and any willow flycatcher that is identified below 8,500 feet elevation will be considered the southwestern subspecies. Surveys conducted by the BLM and Forest Service in 1995 detected willow flycatchers in three locations in the San Miguel and Dolores watersheds. The closest location to the project area is at the confluence of Saltado Creek and the San Miguel River, approximately 16 miles downstream from the project area. Based upon the above habitat criteria, suitable habitat may have been present within the project area prior to gravel mining operations. The elevation of the river at the confluence is about 8,000 feet, and much of the South Fork is below 8,500 feet in elevation. By reviewing old photographs of the area, it is apparent that side channels with beaver dams and other flooded habitat existed prior to gravel mining. All of this habitat has been lost to the extensive erosion that has occurred in the project area. Remaining suitable habitat has been identified in the South Fork about 3 miles upstream from the confluence. As stated, the proposed action is designed to: 1) halt further headcutting of the channel by installation of grade control structures; 2) reduce accelerated bank erosion; 3) create a single channel and eliminate the braided pattern which now exists; 4) restore aquatic and riparian habitat quality; 5) reduce the potential impact of future flood damage; and 6) restore the visual, aesthetic, biological and physical qualities of the riverine environment. If the objectives are achieved, suitable habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher should also be eventually restored. This would result in a beneficial effect to the species through increased available habitat. Northern leopard frog - ana pinene Porest Service sensitive species 15