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(Phalaroides arundinacea), inland saltgrass (Distichlis stricta), rushes (Juncus spp.), sedges <br />(Carex spp.), cattail (Typha latifolia) and weed species including lambsquarter (Chenopodium <br />berlandieri), halogeton (Halogetion glomeratus) and whitetop (Cardaria draba). <br />It was noted during the biological survey, that the current infestation of tamarisk appears to have <br />sustained a major dieback. Information is not available regarding the time -line of the dieback or <br />when it started. The dieback may have resulted from the extremely cold temperatures <br />experienced during the winter of 2009 -2010 or more likely because of defoliation by tamarisk <br />leaf beetles. The Colorado Department of Agriculture, Palisade Insectary, has released tamarisk <br />leaf beetles as a biological control agent for tamarisk infestations. The result is most of the <br />above ground foliage on the tamarisk appears dead. Some limited regrowth is occurring, but <br />plants do not appear in good condition. This dieback may provide an opportunity for wildlife <br />habitat improvement along Reed Wash. <br />2.2 FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES <br />2.2.1 Background Information <br />Descriptions of critical habitats for federally listed threatened, endangered, and candidate fish <br />and wildlife species were reviewed in the Federal Register, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. <br />Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Wildlife habitat (activities) maps, provided via the internet <br />web by the Colorado Division of Wildlife's (CDOW) "Natural Diversity Information Source" <br />(NDIS), were reviewed for this report in reference to mule deer and state- listed threatened, <br />endangered, and species of "special concern "(CDOW 2010a). <br />A list of Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) and their habitats were reviewed. This list is <br />published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) through a Memorandum of <br />Understanding with the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service, which places high conservation <br />priorities for BCC species (USFWS 2008). Not all of these BCC species occur regularly in <br />Colorado, and some are present only as seasonal migrants. Of those known to breed in <br />Colorado, only a portion are known or suspected to breed within the vicinity of the project area. <br />Avian literature sources such as the "Birds of Western Colorado Plateau and Mesa Country" <br />(Righter et al. 2004) and the "Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas" (Kingery 1998) were reviewed to <br />determine the likelihood for species occurrence within the project area. Bird identification and <br />taxonomic nomenclature are in accordance with that applied by the Colorado Breeding Bird <br />Atlas Project (Kingery 1998). <br />The determination of the presence /absence of suitable habitat for threatened, endangered, and <br />"sensitive species" (TESS) plants was based on biological personnel's knowledge of typical <br />habitat occupied by BLM listed plants, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) Rare <br />Plant Field Guide (Spackman et al. 1997), and locations of species documented in the CNHP <br />statewide database. <br />2.2.2 Survey Methods <br />A preliminary review of the project area, using aerial photographs, was conducted to familiarize <br />biological personnel with vegetation types, terrain, and as an aid to determine the likelihood of <br />the presence of threatened, endangered, or sensitive wildlife species. Field data, including <br />general project location, boundaries, and reported features, were verified and/or recorded with <br />4 <br />