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Mud Creek Pit -Reclamation Permit Application -112 (C) Exhibits Page 34 of 67
<br />EXHIBIT H -Wildlife Information
<br />1. Agricultural land, coniferous forests, drainages, wetlands, and brush land combine to provide a
<br />high diversity of wildlife habitat in the Mancos Valley in which the pit is located. Much of this diversity has
<br />been induced by irrigated agriculture, which began in the 1890s. Irrigation converted a dry basin into many
<br />kinds of habitats, including ponds, marshes, reservoirs, cropland, and those habitats created by the
<br />irrigation water conveyance system (canals, laterals, and ditches). All wildlife and wetland resource
<br />information has been reviewed with both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Division of Wildlife
<br />2. Wildlife species common in area:
<br />MANGOS RIVER VALLEY, E MONTEZUMA COUNTY
<br />Game species found in the area include: mule deer, elk, Merriam's turkey, cottontail rabbit, black bear, and
<br />mountain lion. Non-game species are widely represented in the valley with a variety of shorebirds,
<br />neotropical birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians adding diversity to the wildlife in the area.
<br />Praise dogs are located in an area and a prairie dog village is located on property to the east of the site: because the
<br />land has lain fallow for many years, the village is attempting to expand into the area, and the past and current owners
<br />are implementing pest control measures to prevent expansion of the village. While it is unlikely that there are ferrets
<br />located in the area, mining operations would not preclude passage of ferrets between any colonies which do exist.
<br />Other Fish and Wildlife Resources-Other Fish Species
<br />Fish species inhabiting streams and bodies of water near the project area include such game fish as
<br />rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, and catfish. Native fish include cutthroat trout, round tail chub,
<br />flannel mouth sucker, bluehead sucker, speckled dace, fathead minnow, and mottled sculpin.
<br />Other Wildlife Species
<br />Various waterfowl, shorebirds, and neo-tropical birds inhabit or frequent the area, including: several species
<br />of ducks, Canada geese, great blue heron, sora rail, red-winged blackbird, yellow-headed blackbird, and
<br />marsh wren. The various raptors found in association with the area include: Red-tailed hawk, Cooper's
<br />hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, northern harrier (marsh hawk), peregrine (prairie) falcon, rough-legged hawk,
<br />ferruginous hawk, and great horned owl, and others. Amphibians and reptiles inhabiting the valley include:
<br />chorus frog, leopard frog, Woodhouse toad, spadefoot toad, tiger salamander, wandering garter snake,
<br />black (garter) snake, Western green snake, Western bull snake, (Western kingsnake), Western prairie
<br />rattlesnake, (fence lizard), sagebrush lizard, and mountain short-homed lizard.
<br />2. Threatened and endangered species impacted:
<br />Suitable habitat for the following threatened or endangered species is found in the area: Southwestern
<br />willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), razorback
<br />sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), Mancos milk-vetch (Astragalus humillimus), and Mesa Verde cactus
<br />(Sclerocactus mesaeverdae).
<br />Southwestern willow flycatchers utilize dense willow, cottonwood, and buffaloberry thickets (preferably a
<br />layered system of all three) with surface water or saturated soil adjacent to or nearby the stand. Flycatcher
<br />habitat is interspersed throughout the area along ditches and the perennial drainages. It consists of
<br />primarily monotypic coyote willow stands and layered stands of willow, narrowleaf cottonwood, buffaloberry,
<br />and wild rose. The river bottom consists mainly of narrowleaf and Fremont cottonwood with limited pockets
<br />of shrubby understory. All of the listed woody species are native to the Mancos Valley and are suited to the
<br />climatic conditions with or without irrigation. Typically their growth and extent is enhanced by irrigation and
<br />excess irrigation water. No known nesting pairs of Southwestern willow flycatcher have been observed in
<br />the valley; however, migratory use is evident. No effect on possible flycatcher habitat is expected: the sole
<br />area which might be suitable is in the northeast buffer zone.
<br />McStone Aggregates, LLC 15 FEB 2008 ©WASTELINE, INC 2008 PN 5006.1-4(009)
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