REP08101

• Permit No: M1993041
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 1/27/1994
• Doc Name: APPENDIX DOWE FLATS PROJECT WILDLIFE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

beaver may no longer be present. Indian Mountain and the Dowe
• Pass area are identified as within the distribution of Abert's
squirrels. These squirrels, however, are closely associated
with ponderosa pine forests and given the low density of the
scattered pine stands within the Dowe Flats basin, it is unlikely
they are present. Abert's squirrels have not been observed
on Rabbit Mountain (Boulder County 1984). CDOW 1041 maps show
black bear and mountain lion distribution extending east to
a north-south line bisecting the town of Lyons. Mike Figgs
(BCNA, pers. commun.) indicated that the presence of both species
has been documented on Indian Mountain, immediately west of
the project area.
BIG GAME
Impacts to deer and their seasonal habitats will be one of the
significant wildlife issues associated with the project. The
northern end of the Dowe Flats project area and surrounding
lands are considered mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) winter
range by the CDOW and Boulder County 1986) Fig. 3). Mule
deer and white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) both utilize habitats
in the area yearround. White-tails are uncommon and a species
of special concern in Boulder County. Seasonal and daily movements
of deer appear to occupy east-west along (1) the St. vrain Creek
and irrigation canal riparian zones and (2) across Dowe Flats,
and (3) north-south between the riparian zones and Rabbit Mountain.
• However, it is unclear how many deer are present in the area
at different times of the year, where they come from, where
the movement corridors actually are, how important Dowe Flats
and adjacent areas are, if adjacent areas can support displaced
animals, etc. A deer study, supported by Boulder County, is
now being conducted on Rabbit Mountain to obtain data for Open
Space management purposes. Data obtained from this study will
be useful as part of a more extensive and rigorously designed
baseline study for the Dowe Flat project.
Overall elk distribution, based on 1977 CROW 1041 mapping, includes
the Indian Mountain and Dowe Pass areas (Fig. 4); however, it
is likely that elk only use areas this low and this far to the
east during winter. An increase in the number of homes being
built in Stone Canyon and Spring Gulch to the west, and topographic
obstacles may be restricting elk from moving as far east as
Dowe Flats. Two critical winter ranges have been identified
for elk; both are west of Highway 36 (Fig. 4). Elk will be
a minor issue which cart probably be addressed in conjunction
with the baseline study for deer.
The 1977 1041 data indicate the eastward limit of bighorn sheep
distribution does not cross Indian Mountain; however, these
data may be outdated because sheep no longer appear to range
that far east.
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