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Prymorys Environmental Consulting, LLC. <br />"Uedica~ine resources ~o ~omorrow'e environment fm today's industry." <br />habitats, and potential foraging grassland habitats also exist. Any occupation of <br />the property is likely limited to daytime foraging roosting, and passover <br />migrations and no night roosting by bald eagles has been observed within and <br />surrounding the property. Moreover, no known nests of bald eagles exists within <br />6 miles of the property. Potential activities of this species within the property tre <br />limited to the high use winter months (November through March) of this species <br />in La Plata County, CO. <br />The State of Colorado lists 14 species likely to occur in La Plata County, CO as <br />State Threatened, or Endangered as of April 2003. Six (6) of these species are <br />overlap listings with the USFWS and were discussed above; bald eagle, Canada <br />lynx, Mexican spotted owl, southwestern willow flycatcher, razorback sucker, and <br />the Colorado pikeminnow. Seven (7) of these State species are not likely within <br />the property as it does not provide habitat for these species, or it is outside of t:teir <br />known range. They are: Boreal toad, whooping crane, black-footed ferret, rive <br />otter, bonytail chub, humpback chub, and the wolverine. <br />The western burrowing owl is known to occupy grassland habitats with a strong <br />association with prairie dog towns. Prairie dogs do exist on the property, in <br />limited numbers, and as such the burrowing owl could or could have occupied the <br />permitting property. No sign of this species has been noted in the property <br />through June, August, and September visits to the area and prairie dog <br />populations of the property are limited in numbers. <br />(d) The proposed property has been and is cutrently managed (Although to a lesser <br />extent) as a domestic elk ranch and as such, has an exclusionary wildlife fence <br />around much of its perimeter. Such exclusion had limited the property's use fitr <br />foraging by bigger game and non-game species such as mule deer and elk. <br />Disturbances from the proposed activities will result in loss of agricultural <br />grasslands that may be used by migrating and or local wildlife species that use <br />these habitats (see above). Moreover, activities within the area could discoura;e <br />occupancy by many raptor species, other avian species, as well as terrestrial <br />species. <br />Activities occurring within the property are not likely to significantly alter <br />migration routes for any species to an extent beyond its current impact from tha <br />fencing. Waterfowl and other avian species are likely to continue to migrate <br />through the region, although they may be deterred from using the property for <br />resting and foraging due to impacts to forage availability and general activity <br />dismptions-including noise. <br />Minimal impacts will occur to the Pinion-Juniper habitats and sagebrush <br />shrubland habitats of the property and as such limited impacts are likely to those <br />species that are known to be associated with these habitats. Similarly little to Rio <br />-------P.O. Box 4470------- <br />Durango, Colorado 81302 <br />