2007-02-14_PERMIT FILE - C1981044A (2)

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Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse -The azea south of the Yampa River/Highway 13 through the permit area is considered overall range for the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. Sharp-tails make extensive summer use of the Trapper l~iine site and other sagebrush/grassland habitats in the vicinity. Sharp-tailed grouse winter range occurs east of Highway 13 from Big Bottom south toward Hamilton through the permit area. Several strutting grounds occur from approximately 1.~ miles east of the mine site through 5 miles east of the mine site. Nesting generally occurs within approximately 1 mile of strutting grounds. Eastern portions of the permit area may support nesting Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse was proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act in the 2000s, but was found not warranted for listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Service has recently been sued to reconsider that ruling. That review is currently in process. Greater Sage-Grouse -The permit area is mapped within overall range for greatersage-grouse, though it occws along the edge of occupied habitat. Greater sage-grouse numbers -south of Highway 40 and east of Round Bottom are limited, but occurrence within the permit area is possible. Winter range is located several miles to the west and does not occw within the permit area. The nearest recently active strutting ground (lek) site is located about 4 miles west of the mine site north of Round Bottom. An historic lek site is located within the permit area. The majority of greater~sage~rouse nest within 4 miles of a strutting ground, so some nesting use of the permit area may occw. Greater sage-grouse have also been proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act and' have also been found not warranted for listing. A lawsuit to reconsider that decision is anticipated in the near future. ,~ Black-footed Ferret/White-tailed Prairie Dog -Black-footed fenets aze a federally listed endangered species. Black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced to western portions of Moffat County, between Massadona and the Utah state line. The permit area falls within historic range for the species, but no ferrets have been located outside the release area in many decades. White-tailed prairie dogs, the principal food sowce for black-footed ferrets, have also been the subject of recent conservation concern in their own right. They were recently proposed for listing under the ESA but were found not warranted. The permit area falls within overall range for white-tailed prairie dogs. Prairie dogs are concentrated west of the Little Snake River in Moffat County, though a number of isolated colonies occw throughout the County. There is a small prairie dog colony in portions of Sections 31 and 32, T6N, R91 W. The colony covers an area of less than 20 acres, which is well below the threshold of ~0 acres defined by the USFWS as the minimum size prairie dog colony necessary to support ablack-footed ferret. River Otter -River otter have been observed in the Yampa River both above and below the mine site. No locations have occurred in the William's Fork, but some use of that river reach is likely as well. The number and permanence of this group of otters is not well established, but use can be expected to occur, occasionally at least, along the river corridor through the permit azea. Big River Fishes -Four species of federally endangered fish, the Colorado pikeminnow, bonytail chub, razorback sucker, and humpback chub, occupy the Yampa River downstream of the permit area. Designated critical habitat for the Colorado pikeminnow extends along the Yampa River through the permit area upstream as far as Craig. The other species occw a substantial distance downstream. None of these species are known to occw in the William's Fork. RN-04 2 O 1 /3/2007