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i <br />• <br />19 <br />(:olorado Natural Heritage Program is highly concerned about the small size of native <br />prairie remnants and considers it of importance [o retain (and potentially restore} the <br />existing remnants. <br />PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS: The significance of the site warrants that the <br />Department of Energy immediately designate the Rock Creek Site as a priority <br />ecological site. The Protection Urgency Rank of Pl indicates that the Site may be <br />threatened by forces that could result in the loss of the element(s) within one year. <br />Such a designation should be formal and be included in any site management plans. <br />'t'his protective status should also be such that it continues in effect with any transfer <br />of the pertinent lands to other ownership or management (unless other more current <br />t,iological information suggests otherwise). We also recommend that this protection <br />status include no additional road development or other means of fragmentation of the <br />existing site. Proposals to conduct mineral excavation should incorporate these same <br />principles. We note that the ecological integrity of much of this site is dependent on <br />~: protected hydrological regime. Finally, since this conservation site extends beyond <br />Ftocky Flats Environmental Site boundaries, CNHP recommends that the Department <br />of Energy work in partnership with pertinent federal, state, and local agencies as well <br />as private conservation organizations that could assist in the protection and <br />management of the entire conservation site. <br />P+iANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: <br />F'reble's meadow jumping mouse management recommendations: This site contains the <br />largest known and best studied population of Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Fred <br />Farrington -personal communication, U. S. Department of Energy 1994c). Captures <br />at this site have been reported from a variety of habitat types in and adjacent to the <br />riparian zone of Rock Creek. Long term protection will require the maintenance of <br />these habitats in natural condition (natural ecological fitttctions). This includes the <br />maintenance of supportive ecological processes. Fragmentation of the azea by roads, <br />and possibly trails, should be avoided. Road closures should be considered (perhaps <br />through re-routing). We do not consider the existing research to be other than a <br />positive management practice. The information thus far gained from EG&G's excellent <br />research program is the best available for the subspecies. <br />(:NHP is greatly concerned about the extent of weedy invasion in the Rock Creek <br />drainage. The effects of many of these species on the Preble's meadow jumping mouse <br />are not precisely known. Ecological theory and observation of CNHP staff suggest that <br />serious degradation of the mouse habitat quality will occur with additional expansion <br />of weeds, particularly knapweed species. Exotic plants that threaten to change the <br />structure of the habitats of the Rock Creek Site should be kept in check. <br />Off-site land use may pose the greatest threat to this occurrence. Habitat destruction <br />and alteration of the surrounding land may isolate this population, decreasing its <br />