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The acreage of prairie dog colonies in the study area met the minimum acreage cutoff <br /> requiring a black-footed ferret survey. No ferrets or evidence of ferrets were found (see <br /> Attachment 2). No impacts to black-footed ferrets will occur in the Nucla East study area <br /> as a result of mining activities. <br /> Three Federally listed fish species, the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, and bonytail <br /> chub, occur in the upper Colorado River Basin of which the study area is a part. The U.S. <br /> Fish and Wildlife Service views water depletion from the upper Colorado River Basin as a <br /> potentially negative impact to these fishes (see Attachment 11-1). The Nucla East Mine <br /> permit area represents only 0.03 percent of the San Miguel River watershed to Naturita, <br /> Colorado. This 0.03 percent is in an area of approximately 13 inches mean annual <br /> rainfall . The only sediment dam proposed for construction (Dam No. 007) is designed to be <br /> discharging as necessary. Given the above, no impacts to these fishes are anticipated. <br /> Migratory Bird Species of High Federal Interest. Eleven of the 25 migratory bird species <br /> of high Federal interest discussed in USDI, FWS publication No. FWS/OBS-83/35 were <br /> recorded in the study area. No nesting individuals or suitable nesting habitat for 10 of <br /> these species is present in the study area. Therefore, no adverse impacts upon them will <br /> occur. The presence of numerous prairie dog colonies and the observation of a burrowing <br /> owl on 19 August 1987 suggests possible breeding by the owl in the area. However, <br /> extensive field work did not reveal any nesting pairs and it is unlikely that burrowing <br /> owls nest within the study area, thereby precluding significant mining-related impacts. <br /> Upland Game, Small Game, and Waterfowl . The ring-necked pheasant, mourning dove, common <br /> snipe, desert cottontail, and several species of ducks occur as huntable game species in <br /> the study area. According to Mr. Ron Arant (pers. comm.), the pheasant is the most <br /> popular of these species among local hunters. He states that all of the remaining species <br /> are only lightly hunted in the study area. Where croplands are eliminated, a reduction in <br /> the number of doves may occur. Where swales are eliminated, a reduction in the number of <br /> swales and snipe will occur. The elimination of rangeland and any brushy or densely <br /> vegetated areas will cause a reduction in the number of cottontails and pheasants. <br /> Therefore, temporary reductions in the amount of huntable game will occur in the permit <br /> area until such time as revegetation is completed. <br /> Mule Deer. The mule deer is a popular and widely hunted big game species in southwestern <br /> Colorado. Loss of suitable deer habitat can therefore be considered an important impact. <br /> 11-2-38 Revised 04/11/88 <br />