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TESS Plants <br />The only two plant species in Rio Blanco County listed for protection by USFWS are the <br />Dudley Bluffs bladderpod and the Dudley Bluffs twinpod, neither of which occur on the <br />Phase 2 area, nor is there suitable habitat on the study area for these species. <br />Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: TESS Plants <br />The proposed action would have no conceivable impact on these species or habitats. <br />3.4.3 Birds (other than TESS) <br />Affected Environment: Several species of migratory birds utilize the Wyoming big <br />sagebrush habitat and adjacent pinyon juniper woodlands for nesting. However, as noted <br />previously, the Phase 2 pit location has been significantly stripped of these native habitat <br />components through many years of heavy livestock grazing and offer almost no habitat <br />potential for such bird species. <br />Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: Since no significant native sagebrush <br />habitats exist within 100 meters of the gravel pit location, it is highly unlikely pit <br />operations would have any impact on nesting activities for any bird species. Further, the <br />shrub and woodland habitats in question are regionally abundant, so a 115 -acre impact in <br />the regional context would be negligible in any event. <br />3.4.4 Aquatic Species & Habitat <br />Affected Environment: The discussion under TESS (Section 3.4.2) is directly applicable <br />to Aquatic wildlife species. <br />Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: See Section 3.4.2 Threatened, <br />Endangered and Sensitive Species <br />3.4.5 Vegetation— Upland and Wetland <br />Affected Environment: Upland areas affected by this project include the elevated bench <br />above the White River, which, as noted previously, is primarily an overgrazed grassy <br />mesa with a few remnant stands of sagebrush and rabbitbrush. <br />Site surveys discovered only two invasive, non - native weed species on the Phase 2 <br />parcel, which were Cheatgrass brome (Bromus tectorum) and Musk thistle (Carduus <br />nutans), though it should be noted that cheatgrass is a strongly dominant species on the <br />site. Several other non - native weed species were noted on nearby, surrounding lands <br />including Common burdock (Arctium minus), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and <br />Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima). Several other noxious weed species of concern are <br />also known to be present elsewhere in Rio Blanco County. Given the soil disturbance <br />which will occur during construction, the round -trip, off -site truck traffic necessary for <br />Environmental Solutions, Inc. Page 18 of 30 March 09 <br />