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adjacent upland for fish, waterfowl, and road-killed carrion. Bald eagles may infrequently hunt the open fields of the Ranch during the winter months. There are no known high use, preferred areas, eagle nests or communal roosts in the vicinity of the Ranch. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is listed as a federally endangered species. However, there aze no known active, inactive, or historic eyries or hack sites in the vicinity of the Ranch. The federally endangered Colorado squawfish (Prychocheilus Lucius), bonytail chub (Gila elegans), humpback chub (Gila cypha), and razorback sucker (Xyrauchon texanus) have been collected as faz north as Grand Junction, with the exception of the Colorado squawfish, which was collected as far upstream as Palisade. None of the other federal candidates are potentially present on the Gypsum Ranch due to inappropriate habitats, andfor specific geographical restrictions. EFFECTS OF MINING /RECLAMATION ON WILDLIFE The agricultural habitat to be lost during the mining process is of low value to most wildlife species present in the area of the Ranch. Mice, voles and pocket gophers reside there full-time. However, the loss of this habitat would have no impact on their populations in the Eagle River Valley. When the mine is reclaimed as an agricultural use, these species would repopulate the habitat. Since the bald eagle does not have any nests or communal roosts in the project area, the mining and reclamation process will have minimal impact to this species. Wintering deer using the floodplain would be minimally disturbed by the mining operations. Impacts to deer populations generally occur during the coldest months of the yeaz, when the mining operations are at their lowest activity levels. The mining operations, causing loss of agricultural habitat, would have a minimal impact on the game birds, waterfowl, small game and furbeazers. This is due to the agricultural habitat not being of great value to these species. The primary impact due to mining is on the raptors. Most raptors avoid azeas where noise and human activities are high. Ared-tailed hawk pair is currently nesting in a tree located in the floodplain. However, mining disturbances could cause this pair to abandon this nest site. It is likely that no mitigation would be required under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act during the first few phases of mining. Later mining phases may require mitigation if the nest remains active. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) has reviewed the proposed layout and their assessment is included in this Exhibit. The CDOW's primary recommendation was to avoid disturbing the portion of the upper terrace located to the north of the existing fence line, north to the lower terrace along the Eagle River. The proposed Mine Plan does not impact the above described areas. The limits of excavation have been set using the existing fence line as a boundary.