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• located on cliffs north of the study area in the Good Spring Creek and <br />Wilson Creek valleys (Figure 4-6). Bald eagles were seen infrequently <br />during winter aerial surveys within the study area, however they were <br />commonly observed in the White River Valley near Meeker, Colorado and along <br />Milk Creek near its confluence with Little Creek. These observations <br />indicate that the Danforth Nills study area provides hunting habitat for <br />golden and bald eagles; similar habitat occurs throughout the region. <br />Results of field studies indicated that suitable habitat for migratory <br />birds of high federal interest, which are listed by Kingery and Graul <br />(1978) as potential breeders within the Craig Latilong, was absent within <br />the study area. Results of field studies reported by Colowyo Coal Company <br />(1981) and Northern Coal Company (1982) support this conclusion. <br />4.6 FISHES <br />No site-specific inventories of fishes or other aquatic organisms were <br />• conducted within the study area. Stream habitat within the proposed <br />affected area is limited to small headwater streams 1-5 ft in width and <br />less than two ft in depth. Average annual flow rates recorded for baseflow <br />periods during September 1984 through August 1985 were 1.02 cfs, 4.64 cfs, <br />and 1.24 cfs for the West Fork of Good Spring Creek, Good Spring Creek, and <br />Wilson Creek, respectively. Peak flows, however, during the April/May <br />period are significantly higher than these baseflows, exceeding 12, 70, and <br />90 cfs, respectively, for the above three streams. Bank stability is poor <br />and a large percentage of the streambed is covered with sediment in most <br />stream reaches within the proposed affected area. Riparian vegetation is <br />generally absent or poorly developed (see Section 4.1), and all reaches of <br />stream within the area are impacted by grazing. <br />Literature review indicates that no information exists regarding the <br />composition of periphyton or benthic invertebrate populations of these <br />streams. Viable populations of nongame fishes including black bullheads <br />(Ictalurus melas), creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus), flannelmouth <br />• suckers (Catostomus latipinnis), white suckers (Catostomus commersoni), and <br />several species of minnnows (Cyprinidae) probably occur (BLM 1981) within <br />4-32 <br />