2008-02-04_PERMIT FILE - C1982056A

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Colorado are laid from late May to early June. The incubation period for cranes is approximately 30 days • (Drewien 1973, Blake 1974). Drewien (1973) found that cranes seldom left nests unattended once eggs were laid, tnd during B7 hours of observ'mg 5 incubating pairs, he found that nests were unattended only I? percent of the time. Incubation duties are shared by both birds with the female usually incubating at night and the male during the day (Blake 1974). There was some evidence that the unusually late spring and extremely high runoff in mid-May may have disrupted or delayed crane nesting activity in Twentymile Park. In Blake's (1975) studies on nesting cranes in northwest Colorado, nesting was delayed about two weeks as a result of late, heavy snowstorms. Unusually late spring snowstorms and heavy spring runoff were documented for the general Twentymile Park region in 1984. Runoff in mid-May in Twentymile Park was so high that Fish Creek overflowed its banks and washed out a portion of County Road No. 27 near the southern edge of the permit area. Many of the smaller drainages in the permit area also showed evidence of high water, as indicated by debris piled up in the sagebrush above the drainages. High water in mid-May may explain why the nest located in early May by John Monarch could not be relocated in June. In a study of nesting cranes in Oregon, Littlefield (1968) documented one case of nest desertion as a result of Flooding. It is uncertain whether renesting would occur after desertion due to Flooding, but renesting following egg destruction by predators has been documented (Littlefield 1968, Drewien 1973). Three additional active nests were located in the permit area by CDOW personnel during a helicopter survey of the ~,eneral area in late June, 1984. Two nests contained two eggs and one was vacant. Locations of these nests are also plotted on Map 21, Locations of Sandhill Crane Nests and Nesting Habitat and Raptor Cliff-nesting Habitat. Unless notified by regulatory authorities, no further surveys are planned. Elk and Mule Deer Critical Winter Ranee versus Proposed Surface Disturbance • As discussed previously, mule deer winter habitat in the permit area is limited to the southeast portion. Critical winter range and concentration areas occur along the southwest and southeast facing, shrub-covered slopes near Foidel Creek (Map 20, Mule Deer Biological Features). No mule deer migration routes have been identified in the area. As shown on Map 20, Mule Deer Biological Features, no new surface disturbances are proposed to occur within any mule deer critical winter range or concentration areas. An existing road at the eastern end of designated mule deer winter range will be upgraded to provide access [o the Fish Creek shafts. This road will have no impacts on the critical winter range. Other existing roads (County Roads No. 27 and No. 33) which will be used for coal haulage, pass between the two slopes designated as critical mule deer winter range. Glk winter range encompasses the entire permit area with critical winter range occurring along the northwestern boundary of the permit area and on southern facing slopes in the southeastern portion of the permit area (Map 19, Elk Biological Features). CDOW Wildlife information System Maps incorrectly show elk critical range (along the northeast boundary of the permit area) extending from the southeast-facing, shrub-covered slopes into gently rolling cropland. The correct eastern boundary of this critical winter range should generally coincide with [he toe of the southeast-facing shrub-covered slopes, since the cropland portions of the permit area are completely covered by snow in the winter, and cropland is not a preferred critical winter habitat for elk. Winter aerial elk surveys performed by the Applicant's biologists indicate that there is little, if any, mid to late winter elk use of habitats occurring east of the foothills along the western edge of the permit area. The CDOW mapping and corrected boundary are both plotted on Map 19, Elk Biological Features. As shown on Map 19, Elk Biological Features, no new' surface disturbances will occur within actual elk critical winter range. The southern access route to the Fish Creek Borehole/Shaft Area will run (for approximately I mi or 1.6 km) along the eastern edge of a designated elk concentration area and also cross an elk migration route. In addition, the coal haulage roads (County Roads No. 27 . and No. 33) cross approximately 0.75 mi (1.2 km) of an elk winter concentration area, and the Fish Creek Borehole/Shaft Area extends inro a small portion of elk winter concentration area. MR 97-154 2.04-75 Revised 10/(12/97