2009-06-11_REVISION - C1982056 (2)

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Bonytail The bonytail (Gila elegans) is a highly streamlined fish, dark on top, light below, often very dark in clear waters and pale in turbid waters. Fins are dusky with yellow pigment near base, prefering eddies and pools, not swift currents. The bonytail has a concave skull arching into a nuchal hump predorsally with a long and slender snout that does not overhang the upper lip. Scales often minute or absent from chest, stomach. Adults of seven years of age can be 14 inches long and weigh more than one pound. Found historically throughout the Colorado River Drainage however, in recent years bonytail have only been taken from the Green River in Utah and lakes Havasu and Mohave. Candidates Yellow-billed cuckoo The Yellow-billed cuckoo, (coccyzus americanus), is a medium sized bird with a slender, long- tailed profile, slightly down-curved bill, which is blue-black with yellow on the lower half of the bill. Plumage is grayish-brown above and white below, with rufous primary flight feathers. This species occupies tall riparian habitat consisting of cottonwood over story and an under story of dense willow or tamarisk at elevations of less than 6,500 feet above mean sea level. Suitable habitat does not occur on or adjacent to the Foidel Creek mine permit area. Due to a lack of suitable habitat, OSM has determined that the TR-64 will "not effect" the continued existence of the Yellow-billed cuckoo. Previous Consultations In a memorandum dated October 10, 1986, (no identification number) the USF&WS concurred with OSM's "no effect" determination for all federally listed species. In a memorandum dated June 14, 1993, (ES/CO: OSM-Twentymile Coal Company MS 65412 GJ) the USF&WS concurred with OSM's "no effect" determination for the Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, boneytail, and humpback chub. In a memorandum dated May 4, 1995, (ES GJ-6-CO-95-F-007 ) the USF&WS concurred with GSM's "may effect" determinations for the Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, boneytail, and humpback chub due to a 165.45 ac/ft water depletion. USF&WS required Twentymile Coal Company to pay $2,102.87 to the Recovery Program for this estimated 165.45 ac/ft water depletion. In a memorandum dated August 5, 1997, (ES/OSM GJ-6-CO-97-F-014 CO/KS/NE/UT) the USF&WS concurred with OSM's "may effect" determinations for the Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, boneytail, and humpback chub due to a 134.89 ac/ft increase in water depletions for a new total water depletion of 299.54 ac/ft. USF&WS required Twentymile Coal Company to pay an additional $1,808.88 to the Recovery Program.