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Species of Special Concern U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Listings Messrs. Bob Leachman and Terry Ireland of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Junction Office were contacted regarding species of special concern and potential critical habitat in the vicinity of the 19 Road Pit site. Mr. Jerry Craig, raptor specialist with the Colorado Division of Wildlife Fort Collins Office, was contacted regarding the potential for impacts to bald and golden eagles in the vicinity of the project site. Information provided by the above sources is further described below. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified the following federally listed or candidate species as potentially occurring in or neaz the project site; the bonytail chub (Gila elegans), humpback chub (Gila cypha}, Colorado p$ceminnow (Ptychocheilus Lucius), razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzms americanus), southwest willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailii extimus), whooping crane (Gros americana), and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). None of these species were observed during the site investigation. The bonytail chub, humpback chub, Colorado pilceminnow, and razorback sucker are all federally listed endangered species that aze found within the Colorado River drainage. Impacts to the fish or their critical habitat would be linked to depletions of water within the Colorado River or adjacent tributaries or backwaters (that the fish use for spawning), increases in sediment loading to the same waters, or physical alteration of the riverbed or bank. The project does not propose any modifications to the physical structure of the Colorado River, tributaries, or backwaters. All azeas disturbed during the project life will have sediment control measures employed that have been approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology. No depletions of surfice water that is tributary to the Colorado River are anticipated. Any groundwater depletions will be augmented through a plan approved by the State of Colorado Division of Water Resources and State Engineer. Habitat for the yellow-billed cuckoo is described as dense riparian forest, where they forage for caterpillars. The nest is a loose platform of twigs in bushes or low trees (Sibley, 2000). No cuckoos or cuckoo nests were observed during the site investigation. The project plan does not anticipate disturbing the cottonwood woodlands on the north or riparian corridor to the southwest of the project site; therefore there is little likelihood of impacting cuckoo nesting or foraging habitat. Mr. Terry Ireland, specialist on the southwest willow flycatcher for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was consuhed regarding the potential for encountering the birds or their critical habitat at the 19 Road Pit site. He stated that while the site contains the tamarisk and willows that constitute flycatcher habitat, the Service's final rule designating critical habitat would not include any azeas within Mesa County, Colorado. Therefore, there is negligible potential for impacting the birds or their critical habitat with the project. -3-