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Aspen stands and the pocket of Douglas fir, which are within 1/4 mile of the proposed location <br />were checked for raptor nests. For much of the area, mountain shrub (primarily Gambel Oak) <br />dominates the landscape. None of this habitat type in the area provides suitable conditions for <br />raptor nesting and was not surveyed. <br />FINDINGS <br />VEGETATION <br />A discussion of the vegetation/habitat can be found in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Deer Creek Shaft <br />Habitat and wildlife surveys reports. <br />WILDLIFE <br />Threatened & Endangered Species <br />In the project area, suitable habitat is lacking for the ground dwelling Federal and State listed <br />T&E species. With the exception of a small isolated pocked of Douglas fir 600 feet south of the <br />site mapped as suitable denning habitat and a small area of riparian habitat along the Dry Fork of <br />Minnesota Creek mapped as suitable winter habitat the project is located in an area that has been <br />mapped as having no lynx habitat, The Douglas-fir pocket lacks the conditions necessary for <br />suitable denning habitat. Surveys conducted during the winter of 2007-2008 showed there is a <br />lack of prey in the willow dominated areas along the Dry Fork drainage. This reduces the <br />chances that this area would be used by lynx in the winter. The lack of connectivity with other <br />larger areas of suitable habitat further precludes these areas from being used by lynx. None of the <br />Douglas-fir or riparian habitat was disturbed during access road and air shaft pad construction. <br />Canada Lynx could possibly move through the area, but it is doubtful any would remain. <br />There are no federally listed endangered or threatened plant species known to occur in the <br />project area. The Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus glaucus), which is listed as <br />Threatened, is known to occur northwest of Paonia in the North Fork Valley. The project area is <br />found at an elevation higher than this species is known to occur and soils where this species is <br />found do not occur in the project area. None were observed during habitat and wildlife surveys in <br />the project area. <br />Sensitive Species <br />The only USFS Sensitive Species observed during the 2008 surveys was the olive-sided <br />flycatcher. This species was also observed during the 2005, 2006 and 2007 surveys. All <br />observations of these birds over the four years were away from the immediate shaft site and <br />access road area. <br />The Adobe or Rocky Mountain thistle (Cirsium perplexans) is listed as sensitive by both the <br />Forest Service and BLM. None of these plants have been observed in the shaft site area in four <br />years of surveys. <br />2