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J.E. Stover & Associates, Inc
<br />September 3, 2007
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<br />The Blue Ribbon Mine permit area lies approximately 0.75 mile north of bald eagle winter foraging
<br />range and 1.5 mile north of a bald eagle winter concentration area mapped by CDOW in the North
<br />Fork River corridor (Figure 3). The mine permit area features rimrock ledges and several tall
<br />cottonwoods that may provide attractive hunting roosts or roosts for bald eagles. However, given
<br />the high-quality habitat available to bald eagles on the North Fork River, which provides their
<br />preferred prey (fish and waterfowl), and given the availability of aseveral-mile-long stretch of
<br />cottonwood galleries and potential roosts in the North Fork River bottom, it is likely that bald eagles
<br />occur only infrequently within the Blue Ribbon Mine boundary. The lands within the Blue Ribbon
<br />Mine boundary contribute only peripherally to sustaining wintering bald eagle populations in the
<br />North Fork valley.
<br />Water depletion in the upper Colorado River basin resulting from evaporation from the mine's
<br />sediment ponds could potentially affect bald eagle winter foraging habitat. The effects of water
<br />depletion would depend on the extent that forage fish habitat is affected by the mine's water
<br />consumption. Nevertheless, because fish do not form the sole prey base for bald eagles in the
<br />North Fork valley, the water consumption occurring as a result of the renewal of the Blue Ribbon
<br />Mine permit is not likely to cause measurable effects on bald eagles.
<br />Canada lynx
<br />The Canada lynx was listed as a threatened species in 2000 at Federal Register 65(58):16051-
<br />16086. Although never abundant, lynx have historically occurred in appropriate habitat in upper
<br />montane and subalpine zones throughout central Colorado.16 Re-introductions of lynx in the state
<br />have met with some success, with CDOW reporting about 47 percent survivorship and moderate to
<br />high reproductivity (23 possible mating pairs) of the 204 animals released since 1999.' Designated
<br />critical habitat for lynx is currently being proposed at Federal Register 70(216):68294-6832$ by
<br />USFWS in portions of Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Although no designated
<br />critical habitat for lynx is being proposed in Colorado, USFS and other federal agencies have
<br />identified lynx habitat statewide based on vegetation data, including denning, winter foraging, and
<br />other lynx habitat. Agencies have also designated Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) which generally
<br />correspond to watersheds, cover an area large enough to sustain an entire lynx home range, and
<br />are used for landscape-level planning and impact analysis.18 Lynx habitat linkage areas have also
<br />been identified, and represent areas of essential connectivity between large blocks of mapped
<br />suitable lynx habitat. None of the Blue Ribbon Mine permit area falls within the mapped LAUs on
<br />USFS lands.
<br />Primary lynx habitat in Colorado includes coniferous forests of spruce and fir or lodgepole pine.
<br />Secondary habitat consists of aspen or Douglas-fir mixed with primary coniferous habitat, between
<br />8,000 and 11,500 feet elevation.'$ Lynx typically forage in uneven-aged forests with shrubs or small
<br />trees that provide habitat for snowshoe hares, their primary prey. Small forest openings with low
<br />cover enhance foraging habitat, although lynx mostly avoid openings larger than several acres.
<br />Ze Seidel, J., Andree, B., Berlinger, S., Buell, K., Byrne, G., Gill, B., Kenvin, D., Reed, D.. 1998. Draft strategy for the conservation and
<br />reestablishment of lynx and wolverine in the southern rocky mountains. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver, Colorado.
<br />17 Shenk, T. 2006 (Colorado Division of Wildlife Biologist). 2006. Lynx update, March 12. Available at
<br />http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/432B64E3-271 F-4A10-904F-E628869CF1 E1/0/LynxUpdateMar122006.pdf.
<br />18 Ruediger, Bill, Jim Claar, Steve Gniadek, Bryon Holt, Lyle Lewis, Steve Mighton, Bob Naney, Gary Patton, Tony Rinaldi, Joel Trick,
<br />Anne Vandehey, Fred Wahl, Nancy Warren, Dick Wenger, and AI Williamson. 2000. Canada lynx conservation assessment and Strategy.
<br />. 2nd Ed. USDA Forest Service, USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, and USDI National Park Service.
<br />Missoula Montana.
<br />© Rare Earth Science, LLC
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