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r' Based on current information, the project will have No Effect on clay-loving wild <br />buckwheat. <br />-' Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus: To date no Unite Basin Hookless Cactus have been <br />- located during surveys in this portion of the Gunnison Forest (Bradford USFS and <br />_ Ferguson BLM, per. comm.). The nearest known plants were observed North-northwest <br />i of Paonia along the foot of Grand Mesa (Ferguson, per comm.). The species is found at <br />- - an elevational range of 4,500 to 5,900 feet within the desert shmb vegetation community. <br />Habitat for this plant consists of gravelly or rocky surfaces on river terrace deposits and <br />lower mesa slopes. The species occurs on varying exposures, but is more abundant on <br />south-facing exposures, with slopes to about 30 percent grade and where terrace deposits <br />break from level tops to steeper side slopes. <br />Based upon habitat descriptions provided, suitable Unite Basin hookless cactus habitat <br />~ dces not occur in or near the proposed project area. <br />`" • Potential suitable habitat for Uinta basin hookless cactus dces not exist within the <br />-, project azea. <br />~ • The proposed project will not affect any known azeas that could possibly support <br />J <br />Uinta basin hookless cactus. <br />• No new permanent roads will be constructed as part of project activities. The <br />temporary road to be constrocted will be obliterated after use. No roads run <br />through habitat capable of supporting Uinta basin hookless cactus. <br />• Cumulative adverse effects on Uinta basin hookless cactus by proposed actions <br />will not occur. <br />• The linrited scope and scale of the proposed action means that Uinta basin <br />hookless cactus habitat is not at risk, and population viability is not at risk. <br />Based on current information, the project will have No Effect on Uinta basin <br />hookless cactus. <br />Yellow-billed Cuckoo: To date no yellow-billed cuckoos have been located during <br />surveys in potentially suitable habitat in the Gunnison Forest and North Fork Valley. <br />Currently, the only known populations of breeding yellow-billed cuckoos are in the <br />southwestern U. S. In recent years, none have been observed during breeding bird <br />1 surveys in this portion of western Colorado. What habitat they use for nesting and brood <br />rearing depends on the geographic area. Data indicate they require rather extensive stands <br />_ of cottonwoods with a good understory of willows or other suitable species. Other than <br />? in some areas of the southwest they typically nest in old growth cottonwoods with dense <br />understories. Long-term and cumulative effects on yellow-billed cuckoos are not <br />expected to occur based on the knowledge that: <br />Potential suitable habitat for the yellow-billed cuckoo does not exist within the <br />~ Project area. <br />• The proposed project will not affect any known cottonwood stands or riparian <br />areas that could possibly support yellow-billed cuckoos. <br />20 <br />