2011-12-22_PERMIT FILE - X201123500 (2)

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Vegetation and Wildlife Baseline Survey Report Linc Energy Little Snake River Project traditionally the name swift fox has been most often applied to individuals occupying the eastern plains. Lark sparrow's (Chondestes grammacus) are uncommon in northwestern Colorado. The largest summer populations occur in the Grand and Uncompahgre Valleys and the San Miguel and San Juan Basins. Most lark sparrow occurrences are reported in big sagebrush and threats to sagebrush are major concerns for this species. Merriam's shrews (Sorex merriami) occur in sagebrush shrubsteppe habitat in northwest and southwest Colorado, and in central Colorado along the Front Range. Specimens have been collected in Moffat County. Given that Merriam's shrew is a facultative sagebrush species across its range, and that this habitat has undergone significant decline in the last century, it is possible that the range and distribution of this species has responded accordingly. The northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), also known as the marsh hawk, are fairly common inhabitants of the dry grasslands, emergent graminoid wetlands, lightly grazed pastures, croplands, fallow fields, and sagebrush habitats of northwestern Colorado. In western Colorado, where sagebrush makes up a significant portion of northern harrier suitable habitat, loss and degradation of sagebrush are significant concerns. Summertime sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli) centers of abundance are the northwestern counties of Moffat and Routt. Experts consider the sage sparrow a sagebrush shrubsteppe obligate. The loss, fragmentation, and degradation of sagebrush habitat are primary concern for sage sparrows. The sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) is a sagebrush obligate dependent on large patches of sagebrush, and to a lesser extent, other shrub steppe habitat for breeding. In Colorado, the sage thrasher is a common summer resident in appropriate habitat in North Park, the San Luis Valley, the Gunnison Basin and Moffat County. The loss, fragmentation, and degradation of sagebrush habitat are primary concern for the sage thrasher. Sagebrush voles (Lemmiscus curtatus) occur in northwestern Colorado in appropriate habitat, with likely centers of abundance in Moffat County and North Park. Specimens have been taken in Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Larimer, and Grand Counties. Given that sagebrush voles are strongly tied to sagebrush shrubsteppe habitat across their range, and that this habitat has undergone significant decline in the last century, it is possible that the range and distribution of the sagebrush vole has declined accordingly. During migrations, vesper sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) are found throughout Colorado, and migrant birds are quite abundant on the eastern plains, especially in fall. Colorado's breeding vesper sparrows are most common in the large big sagebrush basins of northwestern Colorado and in the big sagebrush shrublands of west - central and southwestern Colorado. For vesper sparrows in western shrublands of North America, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and the effects of grazing and range management are principal concerns. Habitat Management, Inc. Page 9 December 2011