2013-03-06_REVISION - C1992081 (6)

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Site reconnaissance conducted on October 7, 1992 resulted in the observation of approximately 30 mule deer and one red fox within the permit area. The deer were flushed from beds located below cutbanks along Dry Creek in the center of the permit area. The fox was flushed from shrubland habitat near the creek bottom. In addition, numerous northern pocket gopher diggings were observed along the first terrace of the stream. Over the past several years a herd of 15 -20 mule deer have taken up residence within the permit area. They are commonly observed foraging within the rail loop and often rest near the coal loadout structure. Pronghorn are also commonly observed foraging in the center of the permit area. Birds. Avian species of possible occurrence in the permit area are listed in Table 11 -3, Bird Species of Possible Occurrence in the Hayden Gulch Loadout Permit Area. The list was derived from the Colorado Bird Distribution Lat /Long Study (Chase et. al., 1982), by cross - referencing habitat designations in the study area with those in the permit area. The list is augmented with additional widespread generalist species of likely occurrence, but which aren't reflected in the lat /long study results. The habitat codes used from the lat /long study were MS (marshes, bogs and wet hummocks), SaRb (sagebrush /rabbitbrush), DS (greasewood /sagebrush) and Cr (croplands). 0 Reptiles and Amphibians. Table 11 -4, Reptiles and Amphibians of Possible occurrence in the Hayden Gulch Loadout Permit Area, presents a list of herptiles that could potentially occur within or adjacent to the Loadout permit area. This list was derived from the Colorado Reptile and Amphibian Distribution Lat /long Study (Hammerson and Langlois, 1991), cross - referencing likely habitats in the study with those found in the Loadout area. Lat /long study habitats used included SaRb (sagebrush / rabbitbrush), GrSa /Sb (greasewood- salbrush /greasewood- sagebrush), MS (marshes, bogs and wet hummocks) and Ag (agriculture). Fishes and Other Aquatic Oruanisms. No quantitative studies of fishes were made during the course of conducting biological inventories for the original permit application. However, the following excerpts (3R Corporation, 'L977a) adequately describes fisheries potential in streams in the and adjacent to the permit area. (p. 39) "Major nearby streams which provide habitat for running water fishes include the East Fork of the Williams Fork River and the Yampa River, approximately four and ten miles from the site, respectively. The East Fork is rated as excellent for stream fisheries and is dominated by rainbow trout. The Yampa River near its confluence with Dry Creek is dominated by rough fish and is rated fair for stream fisheries." RN -03 6 Revised 06108