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

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u HABITAT DESCRIPTION, WILDLIFE OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS (Numbers refer to the yellow dots on Map 1). 1. This is the western start of the project and begins north of the State Highway 133 overpass of the railroad line (line) approximately 1/2 mile east of the intersection of the old and new Highway 133. The Siding begins along a steep hillside fenced on the west by an 8-foot high game damage fence and drops off into a wetland on the eastern side. Boxelder, narrow-leaf and Fremont cottonwood, Gambel oakbrush, rabbitbrush, sumac, yellow sweetclover, coyote willow and saltgrass aze the dominant vegetative species. Most shrub species occur along the line corridor while the tree species dominate the hillsides between the line and wetlands to the east. Below the line to the east -ies a wetland, dominated by cattails, bullrush, sedges and rushes and some coyote willow. Approximately half the wetland is open water. Extensive livestock grazing occurs azound the wetland. Cowbirds, brewers and redwing blackbirds, robins, magpies, mallard ducks and yellow warblers were observed in this area. Utilization of shrubs by mule deer and elk was found in this area and along the entire survey corridor. The North Fork Valley is historic critical winter range for deer and elk. • Recommendations: This initial recommendation holds for the entire corridor. Construction activities should be contained to the azea west and north of the existing line. This is the best azea for minimizing construction impacts on wildlife based on topography, ease of consttuctioq cost of construction and the amount of open fields to work with. The area west of number 1 has minimal vegetation on it compared to the area to the east. The dense vegetation east and south of the existing line serves as an excellent buffer zone between the riparian/wetland habitats, homes and livestock azeas. Every effort should be made to leave this vegetation, along with the existing berm along the south side of the line, totally intact. It represents a major mitigation measure by buffering important wildlife habitats to the south closer to the floodplain. 2. Site 2 is at the corner of the line's northeasterly turn. The existing line is in a cut and bermed on the south. There is heavy vegetation on both sides, including cottonwoods, boxelders, sumac and mountain mahogany. Yeliow wazblers, magpies and robins were abundant in this azea. Chorus frogs were heazd in the wetland azeas below the hill. Recommendations: The mature trees on the north side of the track will be impacted by the new Siding. There are few alternatives to tree removal at this location. Planting cottonwoods, sumac and mountain mahogany along the north side of the new siding should be done during reclamation. This will provide important wildlife habitat and buffer the noise and sight of the siding. A vegetative buffer along the entire corridor is an important mitigative measure. The placement of irrigation tailwater collection ditches in i~',r yip'~'L9`i~'1.'di~WliSi-0'iit~idiiiiidi~i~~dtTiaiKTu 8~5Yi ~idiu'~3i i~3iL1~3.~~L'17 Y'1 v~~S.~~S hi addition to protecting the siding from irrigation and natural run-off.