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Wildlife Information
<br />Treiber Lakes
<br />DRMS 112 Permit Application
<br />EXHIBIT H
<br />To evaluate potential wildlife habitat impacts from the proposed operation, information was
<br />gathered from the Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS). The NDIS combines plant and
<br />animal abundance data from the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and other Colorado
<br />natural resource agencies to be used for land -use analyses and decisions. The DOW was also
<br />contacted directly and comments were received during the 1987 Home Office Mine 112
<br />Reclamation Operation Permit Amendment.
<br />There are no known threatened/endangered species within the proposed site boundary. The only
<br />exception could be wintering or year -round roosting/feeding bald eagles. However, there are no
<br />known nest sites within the proposed site boundary. Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat
<br />exists along the headwaters of the Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County, but no known
<br />habitat is known to exist on the proposed site. Additionally, river otters have historically been
<br />observed on the Cache la Poudre River upstream of the City of Greeley, but river otters have not
<br />been observed at the proposed site.
<br />The proposed Treiber Lakes site is an existing mine site with additional mining activities on
<br />adjacent properties. The site also contains a mixture of open water, riparian, wetland, and upland
<br />habitats consisting of native and planted vegetation. Stands of cottonwood and willow are found
<br />along the Cache la Poudre River and lake shorelines.
<br />Wildlife known to be common or abundant in Larimer County, and which might occur within or
<br />near the proposed site, include a variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Frogs,
<br />toads, salamanders, lizards, and snakes would all be expected to inhabit areas similar to those
<br />found within or near the proposed site. Common species could include the bullfrog, plains
<br />spadefoot toad, tiger salamander, plains garter snake, and fence lizard.
<br />Many birds may use habitats similar to those found at the proposed Treiber Lakes site, either
<br />year- round, seasonally for nesting, or temporarily for roosting during migration. Some of the
<br />common or abundant species could include raptors, robins, starlings, grackles, magpies,
<br />blackbirds, cowbirds, warblers, orioles, finches, sparrows, swallows, wrens, nuthatches, vireos,
<br />juncos, yellowthroats, larks, kingbirds, and doves. Because of the abundant open water habitat
<br />within and near the proposed project site, shore birds and waterfowl such as killdeer, herons,
<br />gulls, pelicans, ducks, coots, Canadian geese, and grebes might also be present.
<br />It could be expected that most mammals common or abundant in Larimer County would be
<br />found near or within the proposed Treiber Lakes site. Smaller mammals that might be found at
<br />the proposed project site might include bats, mice, voles, gophers, cottontail rabbits, squirrels,
<br />muskrats, raccoons, and skunks Some of the larger mammals could include both mule and
<br />white tailed deer, beaver, coyote, and fox.
<br />The reclamation activities may disturb some of the wildlife within the proposed site boundary
<br />and adjacent area. However, the activities will be confined to specific areas and total disturbance
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