PERMFILE123947

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 12/2/2004
• Doc Name: 2.04.11 Fish and Wildlife Resources Information
• Type & Sequence: PR10
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

West Elk Mine
The four Colorado river endangered fish species occur downstream of the permit area, and
could potentially be affected by water depletions to the Colorado River Basin.
Bald eagles were listed as endangered in 1967 (USFWS, 1967), down-listed to threatened in
1995 (USFWS, 1995), and proposed for de-listing in 1999 (USFWS, 1999). No critical
habitat has been designated. In Colorado, bald eagles are rare summer breeders and
common winter residents primarily in mountain parks and western river valleys (Andrews
and Righter, 1992). Wintering bald eagles roast in tall trees in secluded spots and make
daily flights up to 20 miles to forage for live prey and carrion. Up to about 20 bald eagles
regularly occupy the North Fork Valley in winter. BLM inventories conducted in 1978
through 1980, and monitoring flights conducted through 1985, did not locate any roost or
nest sites, or areas of winter concentration on or near the study area. Use levels in the river
corridor within the permit area were low density, and only sporadic winter use occurred on
the uplands. The possibility exists for nesting to occur along the North Fork of the
Gunnison River, although no known nesting has occurred in recent or historic times.
CDOW has mapped bald eagle winter range in the west and north portions of the permit
area, and winter concentration area in the North Fork river corridor, refer to Figure 15C,
Bald Eagle Winter Ranges. With consideration of mitigation actions (Section 2.05.6),
underground mining and associated activities in the permit area are unlikely to adversely
affect bald eagles.
USFWS listed Canada lynx in the contiguous USA as threatened in 2000 (USFWS, 2000).
No critical habitat has been designated. Lynx historically occupied Colorado but were
extirpated or reduced to nonviable numbers by the late 1970s. From 1999 to 2003, CDOW
released about 120 lynx in the San Juan Mountains, and lynx are now widely distributed in
low numbers in western Colorado (CDOW, 2003).
Suitable lynx habitat in Colorado includes primary habitat of coniferous forests of spruce
and fir or lodgepole pine, and secondary habitat of aspen or Douglas-fir mixed with
primary coniferous habitat, between 8,000 and 11,500 feet elevation (Ruediger et al., 2000).
Lynx also periodically use or traverse other forested and non-forested habitats including
lower elevation woodlands and shrublands. Population viability depends in part on very
large habitat areas as well as connections between habitats permitting lynx dispersal.
Suitable lynx habitat delineated by federal agencies based on existing vegetation mapping
covers about 10 percent of the permit area, scattered in patches in the south and east parts
of the permit area, refer to Figure 15D, Canada Lynx Habitats. Lynx habitat in the permit
area is virtually all secondary habitat of aspen and Douglas-fir, naturally fragmented and
at the periphery of larger habitat areas at higher elevations in the West Elk Mountains.
Lynx occupancy in the West Elks is not well known. Radio-collared lynx have been located
occasionally on Grand Mesa and the Ragged Mountains, but not in or near the permit area
(K. Broderdorp, USFWS, personal communication 2003). No designated lynx habitat key
linkage areas have been mapped in the vicinity of the lease area (J. LeFevre, USFS,
personal communication 2003).
2.04-176 Revised November 2004 PR/0