2012-02-28_REVISION - M1980244 (97)

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Baseline Technical Report • ARCADIS Report for Soils and Biological Resources, MLE2 Project Area steep slope leads up into the area (on which prairie dogs are less likely to colonize). This was the only active prairie dog colony found near the survey area. 5.2.3 Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse The Preble's meadow jumping mouse is a federally and state listed threatened species. Typical habitat for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is composed of well - developed plains riparian vegetation with adjacent, relatively undisturbed grassland communities, and a nearby water source. These riparian areas include a relatively dense combination of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Preble's are known to regularly range outward into adjacent uplands to feed and hibernate. The USFWS has designated 11 areas in Colorado as critical habitat (USFWS 2009). The closest critical habitat unit is Unit 10: Upper South Platte River. The unit consists of four subunits including one subunit which occurs in Teller County, the Trout Creek Subunit (USFWS 2009). This subunit is located approximately 40 miles north of the survey area, and suitable habitat for this species does not exist within the survey area. 5.2.4 Townsend's Big -Eared Bat The Townsend's big -eared bat is listed as a state species of concern in Colorado. This species can be found in mines, caves, and structures in woodlands and forests to elevations above 9,500 feet. Due to safety concerns, underground mine inspections were not conducted to determine the presence of bats in abandoned mines present within the survey area. However, it is likely that bats, and potentially the Townsend's big -eared bat, occupy abandoned mines in the survey area. This species can be sensitive to disturbance, particularly during hibernation. Therefore, if this species is ever identified in the survey area, care should be taken to not disturb them during the winter months to avoid accidental arousal during hibernation and thus cause energy depletion that is needed to survive through hibernation. 5.3 Invertebrates 5.3.1 Pawnee Montane Skipper The Pawnee montane skipper is a federally listed threatened species. This butterfly inhabits dry, open ponderosa pine woodlands with a sparse understory at 6,000 feet to 7,500 feet amsl on soils derived from the Pikes Peak granite. Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) (the larval food plant) and prairie gayfeather (Liatris spicata) (the primary nectar plant) are two necessary components of the ground cover (USFWS 1998). The only known location is at Deckers, approximately 40 miles north of the CCV Baseline Soils Biology Resource Report (11- 17- 11).doc 24