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• <br />• <br />• <br />• VEGETATION/HABITAT <br />Vegetation/habitat found in the project area was described in detail in the 2007 baseline report. <br />• Vegetation was mapped and is shown on Figure 1 in that report. The vegetation types addressed <br />• in that report included Mountain shrub, Aspen, Spruce/fir, Douglas fir and water influence zones. <br />• Water influence zones included riparian, wetland and ponds. <br />• Most of the E-Seam 2 and 3 MDW's and access roads are located in mountain shrub habitat. The <br />• small amount of this habitat that will be disturbed, in relation to the large expanses of this type in <br />the project area, reduces potential impacts on wildlife that use this type. In addition, much of <br />• this habitat type in the area is over mature and is not as beneficial to wildlife earlier seral stages. <br />• Reclamation of the sites and access roads when they are no longer being used will improve <br />conditions in mountain shrub habitat and benefit wildlife. There are a few areas where a few <br />• aspen will be lost. However, these stands are not being used by raptors for nesting and a few <br />trees being removed will not affect their usefulness to wildlife. <br />• Riparian habitat along the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek is important to a number of bird species. <br />Removal of willows and other shrub species found along the creek will have an effect on a <br />number of species if habitat disturbance is not kept to a minimum. It will be important to cross <br />• the stream at right angles to keep limit disturbance. It will also be important to construct access <br />• roads well away from the stream to protect the habitat. In addition, it will be important to <br />implement measures to minimize the movement of sediment into the riparian area and stream. <br />• When addressing vegetation and habitat it is of interest to note how much of the mature aspen in <br />the area is dying out. When observing the overall area it is estimated that more than 50 percent <br />of the mature aspen has died or is dying. Of additional importance is the lack of regeneration in <br />• many of these stands. As this habitat continues to decline there will undoubtedly be a chance in <br />use of these areas by wildlife, especially birds. <br />• THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES <br />• <br />No T & E species listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) or Colorado Division of <br />• Wildlife (CDOW) were observed during the E-Seam 2 & 3 Methane Drainage Wells or the E- <br />• Seam 3 & 4 exploration area wildlife surveys (Table 1). As presented in the 2007 E-Seam <br />• Baseline Report, habitat is generally lacking for most of these species. Where habitat does exist, <br />it is marginal and the occurrence of any of these species would be doubtful. Canada lynx is the <br />• only listed T&E species that could potentially occur in this area. The yellow-billed cuckoo, <br />• Gunnison sage grouse and boreal toad are listed as federal candidate species. The boreal toad is <br />• listed as endangered by the CDOW. Of these three species, only the boreal toad may be found at <br />• elevations in the E-Seam panels 2 through 4 area. There is no suitable habitat for either the <br />• yellow-billed cuckoo or Gunnison sage grouse. All the above species were discussed in the 2007 <br />E-Seam Methane Drainage Habitat and Wildlife Report. Because habitat conditions have not <br />• changed since that report was prepared and none of the listed species were observed they will not <br />• be addressed in detail in this report. <br />• <br />• <br />• <br />• <br />3