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WILDLIFE RESOURCES ASSESSMENT <br />MORTON LAKES PROPERTY <br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO <br /> <br /> <br />Common Name Scientific Name <br />TGeneral Colorado Range Suitable Habitat <br />7 <br /> (Status*) Present <br />Fish <br />Common Shiner Luxilus cornutus (SE) Slow flowing creeks with <br /> algal growth Unlikely - Mining <br />Iowa Darter Etheostoma exile (SC) South Platte Basin - Cool, setback along Big Dry <br /> clear water - vegetation over Creek avoids habitat <br /> bank <br />Amphib ians and Reptiles <br />Northern leopard Rana pipiens (SC) Easter Colorado wetlands Yes, but degraded - <br />frog Mining setback along <br /> Big Dry Creek avoids <br /> habitat <br />Common Thamnophis sirtalis South Platte Basin near water Yes - Mining setback <br />gartersnake along Big Dry Creek <br /> avoids habitat <br />-SE = Colorado Endangered Species, ST = Colorado Threatened Species, SC = Colorado Species of <br />Special Concern. <br />Source: CDOW 2007. <br />There is no likelihood for the proposed project to directly affect the greater sandhill <br /> <br />crane, long-billed curlew, American peregrine falcon, or western snowy plover because <br />of the lack of potentially suitable habitat on the property. Mining setbacks along Big Dry <br />Creek will vary from 75 to 450 feet, thus avoiding any potential adverse effects to <br />common shiner and Iowa darter. <br />Bkc%Taded Prairie Dog <br />Species Background <br />The black-tailed prairie dog is a state species of special concern (CDOW 2007). <br />Black-tailed prairie dogs are important components of the short and mesic grasslands <br />systems. Threats to this species include habitat loss and degradation, habitat <br />fragmentation, disease (Sylvatic plague), and lethal control activities (NatureServe 2006). <br />Typically, areas occupied by prairie dogs have greater cover and abundance of perennial <br />grasses and annual forbs compared to nonoccupied sites (Whicker and Detling 1988; <br />Witmer et al. 2002). <br />Black-tailed prairie dogs are commonly considered a "keystone" species because <br />their activities (burrowing and intense grazing) provide food and shelter for many other <br />grassland species, which has a large effect on community structure and ecosystem <br />• <br />ERO <br />10 Resources <br />Corporation