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Within the mine area, four species of amphibians and six <br />• species of reptiles are listed as breeding populations. No species <br />were observed during the 1984 site reconnaissance because of the time <br />of winter it was conducted. <br />In this area of the Purgatoire River, fish species include <br />brown trout, rainbow trout and white sucker. There have been no <br />stream survey data collected in this area and only limited creek <br />survey information has been collected. Fishing in this area is <br />considered "average" by DOW until a 1988 fish kill. At this time the <br />DOW upgraded the fishery to "excellent" (Holder 1988). Although no <br />new data has been obtained, Basin Resources monitors any mine <br />discharges into the river. Therefore, sufficient information exists <br />to assess any potential impacts to the fishery. No observations of <br />fish or invertebrate populations were made during the 1984 site <br />reconnaissance due to ice conditions. <br />The mine area is within the range of five mammal, three <br />• bird, and one fish species classified as threatened and endangered by <br />the Federal Government or the State of Colorado or by both. In <br />addition one butterfly species has also been identified as potentially <br />occurring in the area (Pague 1993). Three criteria for selecting these <br />ten species are: actual observations within, or adjacent to, the mine <br />permit area; known distribution in this section of Colorado and the <br />presence of essential habitat for these species as defined by Torres <br />et al. USFWS and DOW have been contacted for their input and interest <br />concerning an updated list of species in the project area. A letter <br />response from the USFWS is supplied as Exhibit 16, Fish and Wildlife <br />Information. <br />Bird species of concern are the bald eagle, peregrine falcon <br />and whooping crane. The whooper and peregrine are considered migrants <br />and are not anticipated to utilize the mine site. Although peregrines <br />are known to occur in an area west of Trinidad, this site is many <br />miles east of the mine site. However, some potential peregrine <br />habitat does exist in the Stonewall area several miles west of the <br />• mine site. But no peregrines are known to occur in this area (Holder <br />1994) . <br />2.04-50 (Revised O1-04-94) <br />