2010-09-29_REVISION - M1981185 (12)

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May Day and Idaho Mine Complex 112 (d) Permit Application 6.4.8(1)(c) Federal- and State - Listed Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species A total of five endangered, two threatened, and one candidate wildlife species are federally - listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for La Plata County, Colorado (see Appendix H -2). The federal list also includes gray wolf (Canis lupus) and whooping crane (Gnus americana). Both are believed to be extirpated in Colorado with the crane at best a historic migrant. In addition to the federal list, the State of Colorado lists an additional 6 threatened and 10 endangered species, but only the endangered boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) and threatened western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) occur within La Plata County. Of the listed species, only the Canada lynx and its habitat is of In the following, the habitat for each listed species believed to occur within La Plata County is summarized and related to their potential to be impacted within the project boundaries (Appen- dix H -2). • Boreal toad: southern Rocky Mountain boreal toad occupies forest habitats between 7,500 to 12,000' elevation within lodgepole pine, spruce -fir forests, and alpine meadows with proximity to shallow, quiet water in lakes, marshes, bogs, ponds, and wet meadows However, as of summer 2000, the boreal toad is not known to occur in La Plata County. • Mexican spotted owl: the owl, in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, in- habits closed -canopy mixed conifer and spruce -fir forests; nesting and roosting primarily in sheer, slick -rock canyons or steep canyons containing exposed bedrock cliffs . This habitat is not present within affected areas and limited within the nearby landscape. • Southwestern willow flycatcher: the flycatcher is a riparian habitat bird ranging from near sea level to 6100 feet 5 ; La Plata River floodplain has dense willow thicket habitat as required by the flycatcher, but is at 8600 feet. The La Plata River floodplain is not within the Affected Lands will not be impacted by this project. • Yellow - billed cuckoo: the cuckoo is a riparian habitat bird; the cuckoo is nearly extir- pated in the West and National Park Service surveys in southwest Colorado from 1988 through 1995 for the Colorado Bird Breeding Atlas have no records of yellow - billed cuckoo. The cuckoo is not expected to occur on the site and the La Plata River floodplain will not be impacted by this project. • Western burrowing owl: the owl occupies grasslands with large prairie dog colonies. This habitat is not present within affected areas or the nearby landscape • Colorado pikeminnow: the pikeminnow inhabits pools of medium to large rivers in swift flowing muddy rivers with quiet, warm backwaters Potential habitat for the pike - minnow would be miles downstream from the project within the Colorado River Basin. Impacts to potential habitat for this fish from the project would be indirect due to water 3 http:/ /wildlife. state. co. us/ NR /rdonlvres /5E48BE99- 6EDO -4A7A- 9799- 7AC65E2C271E /O /Borea]ToadRecovery gdf available 2010- 07 -28. 4 USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. Recovery plan for the Mexican spotted owl: Vo1.I. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 172pp. 5 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2002. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan. Albuquerque, New Mexico. i -ix+ 210 pp., Appendix D, page D -1. 6 hqp: / /ecos.fws.pov /docs /candforms pdf /r8 /B06R VOl pdf available 2010- 07 -20. http:/ /wildlife. state. co. us/ WildlifeSpecies /SpeciesOfConcern /Birds /BurrowingOwl htm available 2010- 07 -28. 8 httD:Hecos.fws.gov /docs /federal register /fi2545.pdf available 2010- 07 -20. May Day Idaho Mine Complex 112(d) Permit Application September 21, 2010 3