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• Porter's feathergrass (Ptilagrostis porters) — This large, showy grass occurs in peat <br /> hummocks and willow cams above 10,000 feet, especially along valley floors that are flat <br /> and have a southeastern exposure. It is not documented from Eagle County but has been <br /> reported from both Lake and Summit counties. <br /> Although not federally listed as threatened or endangered, these candidate species are classified <br /> as sensitive species by the U.S. Forest Service(USFS)Region 2, which includes Colorado. The <br /> Climax mine, mill, and tailing sites are owned by Cyprus Climax, but most of the adjacent area <br /> is federal land in the San Isabel, White River, and Arapahoe national forests. <br /> 3. METHODS <br /> Surveys consisted of walking through suitable habitats and searching for the species of concern. <br /> For plants, site investigations were preceded by an examination of plant materials at the <br /> University of Colorado herbarium and a meeting in the field with Mr. William Jennings, a noted <br /> authority on rare plants in Colorado. Surveys for wildlife addressed indirect sign such as <br /> diagnostic tracks or feces as well as direct observations of individual organisms. <br /> When searching aquatic or hydric communities for boreal toads or their larvae (tadpoles), field <br /> personnel were also alert for another amphibian potentially present in the study area, the tiger <br /> salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). This species is widespread in similar habitats throughout the <br /> region and listed by the USFS as a sensitive species in Region 2. <br /> Field investigations were conducted periodically between June 10 and July 28, 1994. 'Number <br /> of personnel per visit ranged from one during some boreal toad surveys to as many as five <br /> during combined plant-wildlife surveys. A total of 24 person-days were spent at the site during <br /> T&E surveys. Because of the large areal extent of the Climax project area, it was not possible <br /> to cover every square foot of the site. Therefore, investigations focused on habitat.types that <br /> offered the greatest potential for the plant and animal species of concern. The four major habitat <br /> types that were the subject of intensive surveys are described below. Other habitats were <br /> surveyed less intensively. <br /> 4. SURVEY SITES <br /> 4.1 Spruce-Fir Forest <br /> The most extensive habitat type in the Climax project area is a coniferous forest dominated by <br /> Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannit) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) interspersed with <br /> lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). This is the habitat <br /> type most likely to support wolverine, lynx, northern goshawk, and purple lady's slipper in the <br /> study area. Intensive surveys focused on stands of spruce-fir considered to be most suitable for <br /> the lady's slipper. Such stands are characterized by gentle slopes, a relatively open canopy, a <br /> sparse understory, and intermediate soil moisture. The lady's slipper is commonly reported to <br /> occur with other orchids, such as the fairy slipper (Calypso bulbosa), green bog-orchid <br /> (Coeloglossum viride),rattlesnake-plantains(Goodyera spp.),and coral-root(Corallorhiza spp.), <br /> as well as with certain wintergreens (Pyrola spp.). <br /> 3 <br />