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WILDLIFE RESOURCES ASSESSMENT <br />MORTON LAKES PROPERTY <br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO <br />• <br />inhabits marshes, ponds, and stream edges, essentially restricted to aquatic and riparian <br />habitats within floodplains. <br />Potential Habitat and Possible Elects <br />Suitable habitat for the common garter snake is present in the project area. Riparian <br />and wetland areas associated with Big Dry Creek could potentially support populations of <br />this species. The 75- to 450-foot setback along Big Dry Creek would effectively avoid <br />and minimize adverse impacts to the common garter snake. This species would not likely <br />be affected by the project. <br />Large Mammals <br />Areas within the project area provide habitat for animals including coyote (Canis <br />latrans), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), American badger (Taxidea taxus), beaver (Castor <br />canadensis), and raccoon (Procyon lotor). According to the Colorado NDIS, the project <br />area does not contain seasonal elk (Cervus elaphus) or pronghorn (Antilocapra <br />americana) ranges. The South Platte River corridor, located east of the project area, is <br />. mapped as a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) winter concentration area and <br />winter range, and is within the mule deer (Odocoileus hemonius) overall range (NDIS <br />2008). The Big Dry Creek corridor provides a potential movement corridor for these <br />species. White-tailed deer were observed on the site and the adjacent property during the <br />2008 site visit. The proposed project would establish a 75- to 450-foot setback along the <br />Big Dry Creek corridor to minimize large mammal impacts to the maximum extent <br />practicable. <br />Small Mammals <br />Small mammals such as cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.), deer mice (Peromyscus <br />maniculatus), and pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) use habitat within the project area. <br />These species are abundant and widespread throughout northeastern Colorado. <br />Birds <br />Many species of birds occur in the riparian and cultivated areas of the project area. <br />Birds observed during the 2008 site visit include cliff swallows (Petrochelidon <br />• <br />16 Resources <br />Corporation