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<br />i~ <br />Table 3. Significant elements known from the Rock Creek Drainage. <br />Element Cantnon Name Occur. Global State Federal Slate <br />Rank Rank Rank Status Status <br />Zapus hudsonius preblei Prebl e's meadow junpi ng B GST1? S1? G2 SG <br /> mouse <br />Lanius ludovicianus loggerhead shrike C G4 538, SZN C2 SC <br />Nvctitprax nvcticorax bl ack•crowned nigh[- D GS 536 <br /> heron <br />Andropoyon gerardii- %eric tal lgrass B,C G2 S2 <br />Schi zachyrium scopariun prairie <br />Popul us deltoides- Plains cottonwood C GZG3 5253 <br />Salix amygdaloides/ riparian wpodl and <br />5. exiqua <br />Amorpha frut icosa Riparian shrubland C GU SU <br />_rataevus ervthropoda- Seep shrublard C GU SU <br />>runus V1fq T1dnd- <br />>. americans <br />,igropyron smi thi i- Shortgrass prairie ?• GS 54 <br />Bou[eloua grad lis <br />Field verification necessary to determine occurrence rank <br />OTHER BIODIVERSITY VALUES: Data provided by EG&G, Kevin Essington, David <br />.grmstrong, and personal observations by CNHP staff demonstrated that the shrubby <br />izabitats along the riparian zone of Rock Creek and on slopes (particularly on seeps) <br />supported numerous and diverse migratory birds. The abundance of chemes, <br />lzawthorne and sumac provide food as well as high quality cover for the birds. Birds <br />observed included neotropical migratory birds as well as species that moved shorter <br />distances. <br />CURRENT STATUS: The Rock Creek Site occurs largely on the Rocky Flats <br />13nvironmental Technology Site, but also includes some private property at the western <br />l>dge. Further investigations may indicate the need to expand the site downstream onto <br />other ownerships. No protective status is currently provided to the site. [n addition, <br />the Department of Energy is considering potential future uses of the site. Designations <br />other than a conservation designation may prove to be a serious threat to the integrity <br />cif the natural heritage resources. Gravel mining operations on the private property <br />west, including recent proposals for extensive expansion, may pose serious threats to <br />the hydrology of the Rock Creek Site, including riparian vegetation, seep vegetation, <br />~tnd therefore, the Preble's meadow jtunping mouse. <br />'fhe xeric tallgrass prairie occurs within the buffer zone and on adjacent private land <br />to the west on the Rocky Flats Alluvium on relatively flat pediments. Gravel mining <br /> <br />