2012-09-07_PERMIT FILE - M2012018 (2)

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1.0 Introduction Lyons Sandstone is acquiring the necessary permits to operate a rock quarry of approximately 25 acres north of Lyons, Colorado. The operation would initially be a moss rock harvesting operation using two employees to cover the project site as they use picks etc. to loosen the rocks. Once the rocks are loosened from the earth a single forklift will move the rocks. These actions would occur for eight to ten hours daily during the work week. Within three to five years of permit approval the operation would increase in size and intensity to a full surface mining operation employing up to 25 people working eight to ten hours daily. The full surface operation will use heavy machinery including excavators, trucks, loaders and related equipment. The legal land description of the Lyons Sandstone project site is Section 5 of Township 3 North Range 70 West in Boulder County, Colorado (Figure 1). To aid in the permit application process, this Wildlife Habitat Assessment was prepared for the project site. This report identifies the vegetation communities present, documents the wildlife habitats and use, and addresses the potential presence of federally listed threatened and endangered species, as well as other species of concern. 2.0 Environmental Setting The Lyons Sandstone project site is located approximately 2.2 miles north northeast of Lyons, Colorado in Stone Canyon. Altitude at the project site increases from an approximate low of 5,920 on the east side to an approximate high of 6,280 on the west side. The project site is representative of the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) ecosystem. Ponderosa pine forests are relatively dry, warm forests that generally receive 25 inches or less of moisture annually, most of which comes in the spring as snow or rain. The project site has areas Photo 1. Ponderosa pines, skunkbush, and with denser stands of ponderosa and some Rocky open orasslands. Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) trees and open parklands with abundant grasses and clumps of skunkbush (Rhus trilobata) (Photo 1). No noxious weed infested areas were noted as present within the project site. _. � tea► Historical land uses of the project site and surrounding areas include livestock grazing, logging, and moss rock and flagstone quarrying (Photo 2). Fifteen mines, most of which are historical and are not currently operating, are mapped by the USGS within a half mile of the project site (Figure 2). Bing Maps Aerial shows three active mines totaling approximately 36.2 acres within one - quarter mile of the project site: the nearest quarry is approximately 61 yards from the northern project site boundary (Figure 3). Currently the project site is used only for some 1