2010-11-16_PERMIT FILE - C1996083A (27)

Home Browse Search

WILDLIFE SURVEY INFORMATION Wildlife inventories for habitat suitability and species presence for state and federally listed threatened, endangered and sensitive wildlife species were conducted during the first week in July 2000 for J.E. Stover and Associates on behalf of Bowie Resources Ltd. for the proposed Bowie Siding. Wildlife surveys were conducted by Rick Sherman and Mike Ward. Early morning and late evening inventories were conducted over a two day period from the crossing of State Highway 133 and the North Fork Branch spur line of the Union Pacific Raih•oad (line) near Bowie, Colorado easterly to the intersection of old State Highway 133 and the line near the Hubbard Creek Road. The survey perimeter was 500 feet in radius from the centerline of the proposed Bowie Siding by 8500 feet long as noted on the attached map (Map 1) for all species except raptors. A 1/2 mile radius of the centerline of the Bowie Siding was surveyed for peregrine falcons, Mexican spotted owls, golden eagles, bald eagles (winter resident), Northern goshawk and flammulated owl. No state or federally listed threatened, endangered or sensitive wildlife species or evidence of occurrence was found during the inventory. Standard biological inventory • procedures were used during the survey including: knowledge of known species locations, probability of occurrence by habitat type, call vocalization, aerial and ground observations, nesting, denning, breeding and rearing site observations, white wash locations, tracks, scat, vegetative utilization and other wildlife presence indicators. The inventory corridor is broken down by number and shown on Map 1. Each numbered area is described as to the vegetative type and topography for the general azea. Wildlife observations and recommendations for minimizing or mitigating construction disturbance on wildlife habitats are noted. In general, construction of the siding north of the existing rail line is the best location for minimizing impacts of the operation on wildlife. The majority of the proposed siding traverses existing fazm fields, pasture and orchazds in Tess diverse wildlife habitat. The area south of the line is diverse and excellent wildlife habitat. Based on the information provided in Map 1, the new line will not impact the habitat in this azea. The existing line was built along the edge of a bluff above the North Fork Gunnison River floodplain. Below the bluff lie a variety of riverine habitats including extensive riparian and wetland areas. The Colorado Department of Transportation enhanced wetlands in the 1980's as mitigation for new construction of Highway 133. Other wetlands are the result of historic floodplains and farm irrigation. •