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~• by whether the ponds remain at least partially full of water for the majority of the year. <br />Activities associated with road improvements and drilling should have no impact on the <br />ponds and thus no impact on this species. <br />Raptors <br />Two inactive raptor nests were found in aspen stands neaz the proposed access road and <br />drill site. The location and type of nest structure indicated they were probably accipiter <br />nests. One of the nests is within 1/4 mile of the drill site. This nest is located in an aspen <br />stand where there is a visual barrier between nest and drill site. The nest near the access <br />road was in a much deteriorated condition indicating it had been inactive for a number of <br />years. There were other lazge aspen stands well away from the road and drill site that <br />appeazed to offer suitable raptor nesting habitat. These stands were more than 1/4 mile <br />from any proposed disturbance and were not checked. <br />The one raptor of interest was a prairie falcon observed flying over the area. The bird <br />was only observed on one occasion and the assumption is that it was migrating or at least <br />moving through the area. <br />Drill Sites BRL-TC-04-04 and BRL-TC-04-04 ALT <br />• Site Habitat Survey <br />! TI'ie BRL-TC-04-04 site is situated along the Terror Creek road, at the confluence of the <br />West Fork and East Fork of Terror Creek. Both creeks run within about 100 feet of the <br />~ location. Vegetation consists of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), narrowleaf <br />cottonwood (Populus angustifolia), Engehnann spruce (Picea engelmannii), willow (Salix <br />spp,) in the riparian azea and oakbrush and chokecherry on the northwest hillside. <br />Much of the Douglas fir directly south of the location has been killed by what appears to <br />have been the westem spruce budworm, so snags aze abundant. <br />The BRL-TC-04-04 ALT site lies several hundred feet due south of the above referenced <br />location. It is staked on a curve in the road 300-400 feet south-west of West and East <br />Terror Creeks. The slope west of the site is relatively gentle (10-20%) while the slope to <br />the east drops off sharply towazd the creek. Vegetation consists of oakbrush with <br />serviceberry and chokecherry in the mountain shrub vegetative community to the west, <br />south and east, while a stand of Douglas fir lies immediately north of the site. Most of the <br />Douglas fir trees adjacent to the site have been killed by what appeazs to have been the <br />western spruce budworm, so like the previous site, snags aze plentiful. This location is <br />preferred over the former one from a wildlife and watershed prospective as it is situated <br />out of the riparian azea and is several hundred feet away from either creek. <br />r , <br />U <br />