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FISHERIES <br />Of the streams within the project azea, only Hubbard Creek supports a viable fishery. <br />Beaz and Elk Creeks either dry up in the summer or stream flows are so low that fish are <br />not able to survive. All other drainages aze small with intermittent streams. <br />Hubbazd Creek provides habitat for rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout. These <br />species of trout are all found above the area that will be disturbed by activities associated <br />with the project. In addition, Colorado River Cutthroat trout are found in the upper <br />reaches of Hubbazd Creek above where any activities associated with the Elk Creek Mine <br />will take place. Other species of native fish are found at lower elevations in the stream <br />where activities associated with the mine will occur. These include bluehead sucker, <br />white sucker, speckled dace and mottled sculpin (Janes, per. com.). Of these species, the <br />bluehead sucker is listed as sensitive by the USFS. This species is discussed in the <br />Sensitive Species section of this report. <br />BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR THREATENED AND <br />ENDANGERED SPECIES <br />The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) lists two terrestrial vertebrate species, one <br />invertebrate and two plant species which occur, potentially occur, or for which habitat <br />occurs on the Gunnison National Forest, as Threatened, Endangered, or Proposed under <br />the Endangered Species Act of 1973. These are: Canada lynx (threatened), bald eagle <br />(threatened), Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly (endangered), Ctay loving wild buckwheat <br />(Endangered) and Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus (threatened). In addition, four species of <br />fish, which occur in the Colorado River drainage, are listed; Colorado pikeminnow <br />{endangered), Humpback chub (endangered), Razorback sucker (endangered), Bonytail <br />(endangered), the yellow-billed cuckoo, Gunnison sage grouse and boreal toad are listed <br />as candidate species. The purpose of this section is to analyze the effects of the proposed <br />project to determine if formal or informal consultation with FWS is required for any of <br />these species. <br />HABITAT & SPECIES DISTRIBUTION AND EFFECTS DETERMINATION <br />Table 2 displays current information on habitat and T&E species' presence within the <br />project area. <br />15 <br />