2008-06-09_REVISION - C1980007 (3)

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3 Conservation Concern list. Of the 16 bird species evaluated in the list (see the project file), eleven species are not expected to occur within or near the project area due to lack of habitat, and five species have habitat in or near the project area. The species on the Birds of Conservation Concern list that are not already evaluated in the Biological Assessment, Biological. Evaluation or as an MIS, are: golden eagle, Swainson's hawk, peregrine falcon, Virginia's warbler, and Williamson's sapsucker. Species associated with upland mountain shrublands include Virginia's warbler. This species is closely associated with mountain shrub habitats dominated by Gambel oak. Williamson's sapsucker is a bird species of concern that is dependent on snags and tree cavities. Williamson's sapsuckers are primary cavity excavators that are fairly common in the project area. This species constructs cavities in aspen greater than about nine inches in diameter (Tobalske 1997, Winn 1998, Yanishevsky and Petring-Rupp 1998, Schultz 2001). Aspen is the most abundant forested habitat in the project area, providing high quality habitat i.'or snag and cavity-dependant birds because oi' the typically high number of standing dead trees and abundant tree cavities present, especially where aspen is mixed with other conifer trees. Both golden eagles and Swainson's hawk utilize open grasslands or agricultural lands, commonly with scattered trees or shrubs. Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species Table 3-11 displays the threatened, endangered and sensitive wildlife species that have been identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Forest Service to potentially occur within the Deer Creek project area. Bald Eagle Bald eagles are typically associated with rivers and lakes, commonly with abundant fish. In Colorado, they are often located near reservoirs. Their diet consists primarily of fish, but they will also eat waterfowl, rodents and carrion. Nesting typically occurs within mature riparian areas near rivers or lakes with healthy fish populations. According to the 2006 CDOW Bald Eagle Monitoring Report, there are nearly 80 nest sites that have been occupied within the last 5 years in the state of Colorado. The breeding bald eagle population has substantially increased over the last 30 years, and the increase appears to be continuing. The CDOW monitors at least 40 nests annually, with eaglets banded at about a third of the monitored nests. There are no current or historic records of bald eagle nests within the North Fork of the Gunnison drainage. The drainage has been designated by the CDOW as bald eagle winter range. The project area has approximately 85 acres of bald eagle winter foraging habitat; although, no documented perch sites or roost sites occur. The only information regarding bald eagle use is that bald eagles occasionally use the North Fork of the Gunnison River, outside the breeding season, as a feeding site and that some adjacent areas are utilized during the winter or spring when carrion is available. The area is not of high importance to bald eagles. Canada Lynx The Canada lynx was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in March of 2000 (USFWS 2000). The Southern Rockies has been identified as a Canada lynx "provisional" core area by the US Fish and Wildlife Service due to the re-introduced population (USFWS 2005). The provisional core area includes all of Colorado and southern Wyoming. Historically; Colorado supported a relatively small lynx population as populations have been limited due to naturally highly fragmented habitat (USFWS 2007a). The CDOW has established a reintroduction program for Canada lynx in an effort to establish a viable population in Colorado. The • • .__ ^ 96 Deer Creek Ventilation Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells FEIS