2008-12-03_PERMIT FILE - C1992081A (13)

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80-003) regarding important wildlife and wildlife habitat. Letter responses were received from Mr. Jim Morris, Wildlife Biologist with the CDOW, and Mr. Keith L. Rose, Assistant Colorado State Supervisor, USFWS (see correspondence in Attachment 11-1, Consultation Correspondence). In addition, telephone conversati ons were conducted with USFWS representatives (Mr. Bob Leachman) regarding the Loadout facility permitting. As part of HGTI's permit application, CDOW reviewed the status of wildlife species on or near the Loadout facilities area. They concluded that no know State-listed threatened or endangered species occur in the vicinity of the Loadout that would impact permitting of the facility. The USFWS also reviewed the status of important wildlife and wildlife habitat s with regard to re-permitting the facility. They identified several species that may occ ur within the area of influence of the Loadout facility (see Attachment 11-1). HGTI conducted a recent literature search to update information in the permit application package on endangered, threatened and species of special interest. CROW and BLM, in partnership with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP, 2008), keep information on area wildlife including big game and game birds and other species of concern (CDOW, 2008; and BLM, 2008). This includes federally- and state-listed threatened or endangered species and other species considered to be rare or of special interest. In addition, USFWS recently updated •the Colorado Colorado endangered, threatened, proposed and candidate species listing (USFWS, 2008). Table 11-5, Fish and Wildlife Endangered, Threatened, or Candidate Species and Species of Concern for the Hayden Gulch Loadout Permit Area, summarizes the current species listings. Habitat for the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and razorback sucker does not occur within the permit area. Critical habitat for these fishes exists in the Yampa River downstream in Moffat County. In addition to the absence of perennial stream flow with suitable habitat, the Dry Creek diversion, which diverts flow from Dry Creek into the Walker Ditch downstream of the facility area effectively precludes any fishes attempting to enter the upper reaches of Dry Creek. The USFWS believes that major causes for the decline of bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and razorback sucker includes water depletion in the Upper and Lower Colorado have indicated Th that any such depletion will be considered as a negative ey River Basin. tion of the Loadout facility has the potential to cause a net depletion in the impact. Opera downstream of Dry Creek due to the retention of water in the two sediment ponds, and Yampa withdrawal of water from the Yampa River alluvium for consumption use by H-G Shallow Well Mitigation measures for 1 N this potential impact are presented in Tab 21, Fish and . o. Wildlife Plan. Revised 06/08 RN-03 11