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meetings was to solicit all issues, regardless of how minor, <br />• that agency personnel thought might be applicable to this project. <br />While additional issues will inevitably arise, it is unlikely <br />they will be of major significance. Any additional minor issues <br />will be identified during the intensive scoping process in time <br />to incorporate them into the baseline studies and impact assessment. <br />RAPTORS <br />Potential development conflicts on seasonal raptor use of Dowe <br />Flats and on the raptor prey base, dominated by prairie dogs, <br />was one of the significant issues identified by all 3 agencies. <br />In addition to the basic quantification of how many raptors <br />of each species use Dowe Flats and the surrounding area and <br />at what times of the year, we will need to answer (1) how many <br />acres of prairie dog towns will be inundated and at what rate, <br />(2) how much of the existing colonies will remain, (3) is mitigation <br />(colony reestablishment) necessary, {4) what would be the effect <br />on the raptor population with and without the development, (5) <br />how would a bubonic plague outbreak affect the prairie dog and <br />raptor populations, with and without proposed management, and <br />(5) what acreage of prairie dog towns exist adjacent to Dowe <br />Flats and how would they buffer a reduction of Dow? Flats colonies. <br />Three raptors of key concern in this issue are bald and golden <br />eagles and ferruginous hawks. <br />• DEER <br />Potential impacts to the local deer population is an issue of <br />concern expressed by all 3 agencies, but of most importance <br />to the CDOW and Boulder County. This would appear to be the <br />most convoluted issue that we must deal with. It is unknown <br />how important Dowe Flats and adjacent areas are to deer, chat <br />seasonal and annual numbers are and how they vary, and the location <br />and relative use of movement corridors between seasonal ranges. <br />A deer study being implemented on Rabbit Mountain will not provide <br />these answers or those of more important questions. Deer displaced <br />from seasonal ranges by reservoir development and use of Dowe <br />Flats will occupy adjacent habitats. One of these adjacent <br />habitats is Rabbit Mountain, which the CROW and same adjacent <br />landowners to the east feel is overoopulated with deer and should <br />be hunted. While these adjacent landowners annually irritate <br />the CDOW with game damage claims and permit fee Minting in the <br />vicinity of their properties, hunting on Rabbit Mountain Open <br />Space conflicts with the area's management as a wildlife sanctuary <br />(Boulder County 1984). The CDOW and Boulder County are both <br />concerned that deer habitats permanently lost to reservoir <br />development and adjacent habitats, whose availability will be <br />reduced by post development recreational use, will exacerbate <br />the current problems. Deer will be displaced and concentrated <br />• 12 <br />