2009-03-06_REVISION - M1987049 (13)

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READY MIXED CONCRETE COINIPANY ARENDS, REINOEHL, AND ARCHULETA SITE ADATNIS COUNTY, COLORADO UTE LADIES'-TRESSES ORCHID SURVEY REPORT (Spiranthes diluvialis) Prepared by Savage and Savage August 2007 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Savage and Savage conducted a pedestrian survey for the federally listed threatened Ute Ladies'-tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) in potential critical habitat within the Arends, Reinoehl, and Archuleta site in Adams County, Colorado on August 21, 2007. This survey was conducted for Ready Mixed Concrete Company. The survey was conducted in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey guidelines and during the period of anthesis of the type population of the orchid in Boulder County, Colorado. No individuals of Spiranthes diluvialis were found during the survey. INTRODUCTION Ready Mixed Concrete Company requested the identification and survey of any potential critical Ute ladies'-tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) habitat at the Arends, Reinoehl, and Archuleta site prior to development and mineral extraction at the site. The proposed site is located within portions of Sections 13, 14, 23, and 24, Township 1 South, Range 67 West of the 6a' Prime Meridian, Adams County, Colorado. The average elevation of the project site is 4990 feet. The proposed site is located west of the intersection of Brighton Road and 140 Avenue in Adams County, Colorado (Figure 1. General Location Map, and Figure 2. Archuleta, Reinoehl, and Arends Parcels) and is bounded on the north by the Boral Brighton Quarry, east by Brighton Road, south by a fence line and pond, and west by a fence line and unimproved road. The Ute Ladies'-Tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) is a federally listed, threatened plant species known to occur in Colorado. Interim U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey requirements (USFWS, 1992) for the orchid require surveys along the South Platte River 100-year floodplain and perennial tributaries and in potentially critical orchid habitat. Characteristic orchid habitat requiring a survey includes sites below 6500 feet elevation with seasonally high water tables, wet meadows, stream channels, floodplains, wetlands, and areas where vegetation falls into the facultative wet or obligate classification. Sites excluded from the survey requirement include upland sites (short grass prairie and sagebrush rangeland) and highly disturbed or modified sites. Based on the above requirements and a site visit, Savage and Savage staff determined that certain areas within the project site could not be disqualified from the requirements for a pedestrian survey. Ready Mixed Concrete Company's Arends, Reinoehl, & Archuleta Site Page 1 Ute Ladies'-tresses Orchid Survey (2007)