2008-12-05_PERMIT FILE - M2008082 ‎(4)‎

• Permit No: M2008082
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 12/5/2008
• Doc Name: New 112c Appl., Exhibit R to Appendices
• From: Ready Mixed Concrete Company
• To: DRMS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

WILDLIFE RESOURCES ASSESSMENT
MORTON LAKES PROPERTY
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
On July 10, 2008 (73 FR 39790) the Service removed Preble's populations in
Wyoming from the list of species protected under the ESA. The Service also amended
the listing for Preble's to indicate the subspecies remains threatened in the Colorado
portion of its range. Thus, Preble's remains protected in Colorado.
Potential Habitat and Possible Effects
The project area was assessed for potential Preble's habitat. Current guidelines call
for a 300-foot setback from the 100-year floodplain on drainages that are potential
Preble's habitat. All projects within the 300-foot setback require that either a habitat
assessment or presence-absence survey of the site documenting the absence of Preble's
and/or suitable habitat be submitted to the Service for its approval.
Suitable habitat for Preble's does occur within the project area in the pasture
southeast of Big Dry Creek; however, several trapping surveys have been conducted
within 1 mile upstream and downstream of the project area on both Big Dry Creek and
the South Platte River with no Preble's found (ERO 2004; Service 2005). The project
• area is also isolated from any known Preble's populations, with the closest population
more than 15 miles downstream along the. South Platte River trapped by Savage and
Savage in 2001 (Service 2005). These previous trapping surveys indicate it is unlikely
that the proposed project would adversely affect the continued existence of Preble's.
State Endangered, Threatened, and Species of Concern
Numerous species that potentially occur in Weld County are considered endangered,
threatened, or species of concern by the State of Colorado (Table 2). According to
Colorado law (Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-2-102-106), the State must maintain a list of
species determined to be endangered or threatened within the State. State-listed wildlife
species that are not already protected under the ESA are protected under State Statute 33,
which is regulated by the CDOW.
None of the species listed in Tables 1 or 2 were observed on the subject property at
the time the habitat survey was conducted by ERO.
e0
8 Resources
(orporalion