Laserfiche WebLink
RULE 2 - PERMITS <br />were present. This species is common in the permit area and the abundance of cliff cavities and <br />some pine snags provides nesting opportunities for this species (]Exhibit 2.04.11 -E1, Fish and <br />• Wildlife Information). <br />Other raptor species — During the 2008 baseline surveys, additional raptor species were <br />documented, including Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus) and <br />bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). One adult Cooper's hawk was seen flying and hunting in <br />the SW 1 /a NE 1 /a of Section 13 T5N R87W on multiple occasions, but no nest was located. Lone <br />female northern harriers were observed hunting along the bottomllands and adjacent grasslands <br />associated with Fish Creek. <br />A bald eagle was seen soaring over the woodlands and rocky ridgelin.e in the SE 1 /a SE 1 /a of Section <br />10 T5N R87W in June of 2008. Further details regarding the bald eagle sighting are discussed <br />under the Special Status Species section. Due to habitat considerations, it is unlikely that the bald <br />eagle which was documented in the area, nests within the permit area (Exhibit 2.04.11 -E1, Fish and <br />Wildlife Information). <br />Greater Sandhill Crane <br />As part of the monitoring program for the Seneca II and Yoast Mines, ICF Jones & Stokes surveyed <br />for greater sandhill cranes annually from 1996 to 2007 using a standardized protocol. The SCCC <br />permit area was surveyed in 2008 using the same standardized protocol. Those surveys included <br />driving the Twentymile County Road as part of a more extensive survey route, and surveying areas <br />where nesting sandhill cranes had been previously documented. If breeding behavior was observed <br />a search was conducted of potential nesting habitat (e.g., marshes, reservoirs, and moist drainages) <br />• in order to locate nests (Exhibit 2.04.11 -E1, Fish and Wildlife Information). <br />Greater sandhill cranes have been documented regularly within the permit area between 2004 and <br />2008. Nesting greater sandhill cranes within the permit area were observed at the small reservoir <br />(Pond 004) in the SW 1 /a SE 1 /a of Section 12 T5N R87W from 2004 to 2006, and were recorded in <br />close proximity to the reservoir in every year after. The majority of the remaining greater sandhill <br />crane observations have been associated with the Nofster Zeigler Reservoir and the CRP grasslands <br />in the northwest portion of the PSCM permit area. Table 2.04.11 45 shows all the greater sandhill <br />crane observations within the PSCM permit area and a one mile perim (Exhibit 2.04.11 -E1, Fish <br />and Wildlife Information). <br />Other Wildlife Observations <br />All incidental sightings of wildlife on or near the SCCC permit area were recorded during the recent <br />and past baseline and annual monitoring surveys. Sixty -two species of birds, one amphibian <br />species, and 11 mammal species were observed during the 2008 baseline survey periods for the <br />permit area. Bird diversity was highest in the mountain brush habitat (22 species) and grassland <br />habitat (21 species). The most abundant bird species was the cliff swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota), <br />which tended to occur in large flocks and nesting colonies. Only one amphibian species, the boreal <br />chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata), was recorded within the permit area. Targeted surveys for <br />amphibians would likely result in a higher diversity of these species. <br />PSCM Permit App. 2.04 -164 6/15/09 <br />