PERMFILE104350

• Permit No: C1981020
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 5/13/2002
• Section_Exhibit Name: APPENDIX I West Central Colorado Coal EIS Wildlife Maps
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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EXISTING ENVIRONMENT
pinyon-juniper in the north end of the lease tract.
It is first evident only on the north slopes; then at
higher elevations it also is found on southern expo-
sures. This gradual transition of vegetation types
results from increasing soil moisture content in the
lease area from south to north and from lower to
higher elevations. Vegetation types with low mois-
ture requirements are replaced by types with
higher moisture requirements.
The greasewood type is very limited in the coal
lease area, occurring discontinuously along Salt
and Spink creeks. Sagebrush also is found in the
valleys of Salt and Spink creeks and on level
mesas; both areas have deep, well-developed soils.
The sagebrush and greasewood have been cleared
on approximately 50 acres along Salt Creek and the
lower part of Spink Creek. On Salt Creek, the land
is now irrigated farmland; in Spink Canyon, the
land is covered with annual weeds and grasses.
Riparian vegetation along Salt Creek consists
mainly of cottonwoods, running for the entire
length of the lease tract. Little aquatic vegetation
occurs in the lease area because of poor water
quality.
The land south of the lease area, between the
Loma site and the town of Loma, consists of salt-
bush or greasewood where it is publicly owned,
and of agricultural land where i[ is privately
owned.
A more detailed discussion of the plant species
composition of these vegetation types, as well as
their relationship to climatic and topographic fea-
tures and to each other can be found in the region-
al analysis. Scientific names of the plants discussed
above are listed in the appendix, volume 3.
Endangered or Threatened Species
Information on the location of plants within the
region that are proposed to be officially listed as
endangered or threatened in the Federal Register
(see the regional chapter 2, Vegetation, for a list of
the plants) was obtained from detailed literature
searches (Rollins 1941; Barneby 1964; Higgins
1971; Hitchcock 1950; Arp 1972, 1973; Reveal
1969; Keck 1937; Howell 1944; Henson 1961, 1962,
1966; Weber 1961) and extensive herbarium sur-
veys (University of Colorado, Colorado State Uni-
versity, Colorado College, Denver Botanic Gar-
dens, Western State College. Rocky Mountain Bio-
logical Lab, Black Canyon National Monument,
Colorado National Monument, and Grand Mesa/
Uncompahgre National Forest Headquarters). This
research has revealed that none of the plants are
known to have occurred historically in the area of
the Loma Project. The results of the literature and
herbarium studies may be reviewed at the BLM's
Montrose District Office. A detailed Floristic and
endangered and threatened plant inventory of the
931
SHERIDAN 2
natural vegetation that is expected to be disturbed
by the Loma Project facilities and portals has re-
vealed that no endangered or threatened plants are
present. The results of this inventory are available
for public review at the Grand Junction District
Office.
Cryptantha elata, a proposed threatened plant in
the Federal Register was found in 1978 in the
Mancos shale north of Loma (Wm. Weber collec-
tion). This plant could occur in the area of Sheri-
dan's proposed railroad and water line right-of-
way. Cryptantha elata is apparently restricted in
range to dry saltbush covered hills of the Mancos
shale formations in Mesa County, Colorado, and
adjacent Grand County, Utah.
Wildlife
A listing of terrestrial species known or expected
to occur on the East Salt Creek drainage and on
the desert and farmland to the south is available at
the Montrose BLM District Office.
Big Game
MULE DEER
The entire Sheridan lease area is mule deer
winter range. Deer summer in the Douglas Pass
area to the north, migrate during November and
December in a southerly direction to lower eleva-
tions, and remain there through the winter months.
Lower limits of the winter range extend to the base
of the Little Hookcliffs and include the lower end
of East Salt Creek, Howard Canyon, and East
Hranch (map 52-2), which is an area where deer
concentrate. Major habitats utilized by deer are
pinyon-juniper types on canyon sides and sage-
brush and greasewood types in the drainage bot-
toms. Pellet group transects indicate an average of
42 deer days of use per acre in the area near the
lease tracts.
The irrigated alfalfa fields are also important to
deer in this area. Deer use them most heavily in
the early spring when the fields are just beginning
to green up, although a few deer occur around the
fields yearlong.
Populations may Fluctuate greatly from year [o
year as well as seasonally within the year, and
population estimates are based on average numbers.
Mule deer winter populations have been estimated
at about 50 deer per square mile. This would indi-
cate atotal deer population within the Sheridan
lease area of about 700 animals during the winter
months. In recent years, deer populations have
been stable but greatly reduced from the 1960s.
ANTELOPE
In the early 1960s, the Colorado Division of
Wildlife (DOW) released 50 antelope in the desert