|
EXHIBIT H - Wildlife Information
<br />1. Agricultural land, coniferous (primarily pinyon-juniper) forests, drainages,
<br />wetlands, and brush land combine to provide a high diversity of wildlife habitat in
<br />the Mancos Valley in which the pit is located. Much of this diversity has been
<br />induced by irrigated agriculture, which began in the 1890s. Irrigation converted a
<br />dry basin into many kinds of habitats, including ponds, marshes, reservoirs, cropland,
<br />and those habitats created by the irrigation water conveyance system (canals,
<br />laterals, and ditches). All wildlife and wetland resource information has been
<br />reviewed with both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Division of Wildlife
<br />for previous projects in the area.
<br />2. Wildlife species common in area:
<br />MANCOS RIVER VALLEY, E MONTEZUMA COUNTY
<br />Game species found in the area include: mule deer, elk, Merriam's turkey, cottontail
<br />rabbit, black bear, and mountain lion. Non-game species are widely represented in
<br />the valley with a variety of shorebirds, neotropical birds, small mammals, reptiles,
<br />and amphibians adding diversity to the wildlife in the area.
<br />Prairie dogs are located in an area and a prairie dog village is located on property
<br />to the east of the site: because the land has lain fallow for many years, the village is
<br />attempting to expand into the area, and the past and current owners are
<br />implementing pest control measures to prevent expansion of the village. While it is
<br />unlikely that there are ferrets located in the area, mining operations would not
<br />preclude passage of ferrets between any colonies which do exist.
<br />Other Fish and Wildlife Resources-Other Fish Species
<br />Fish species inhabiting streams and bodies of water near the project area include
<br />such game fish as rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, and catfish. Native
<br />fish include cutthroat trout, round tail chub, flannel mouth sucker, bluehead sucker,
<br />speckled dace, fathead minnow, and mottled sculpin.
<br />Other Wildlife Species
<br />Various waterfowl, shorebirds, and neo-tropical birds inhabit or frequent the area,
<br />including: several species of ducks, Canada geese, great blue heron, sora rail, red-
<br />winged blackbird, yellow-headed blackbird, and marsh wren. The various raptors
<br />found in association with the area include: Red-tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk, sharp-
<br />shinned hawk, northern harrier (marsh hawk), peregrine (prairie) falcon, rough-
<br />legged hawk, ferruginous hawk, and great horned owl, and others. Amphibians and
<br />reptiles inhabiting the valley include: chorus frog, leopard frog, woodhouse toad,
<br />spadefoot toad, tiger salamander, wandering garter snake, black (garter) snake,
<br />Western green snake, Western bull snake, (Western kingsnake), Western prairie
<br />rattlesnake, (fence lizard), sagebrush lizard, and mountain short-horned lizard.
<br />3. Threatened and endangered species impacted:
<br />Suitable habitat for the following threatened or endangered species is found in the
<br />area: Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillh extimus), Colorado
<br />pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), Mancos
<br />milk-vetch (Astragalus humillimus), and Mesa Verde cactus (Sclerocactus
<br />mesaeverdae).
<br />Exhibits for 112(c) AM-02 Application -M-1994-108-2010- Page 44
|