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80 -003) regarding important wildlife and wildlife habitat. Letter responses were received <br />from Mr. Jim Morris, Wildlife Biologist with the CDOW, and Mr. Keith L. Rose, Assistant <br />Colorado State Supervisor, USFWS (see correspondence in Attachment 11 -1, Consultation <br />Correspondence). In addition, telephone conversations were conducted with USFWS <br />representatives (Mr. Bob Leachman) regarding the Loadout facility permitting. As part of <br />HGTI's permit application, CDOW reviewed the status of wildlife species on or near the <br />Loadout facilities area. They concluded that no know State - listed threatened or endangered <br />species occur in the vicinity of the Loadout that would impact permitting of the facility. <br />The USFWS also reviewed the status of important wildlife and wildlife habitats with regard <br />to re- permitting the facility. They identified several species that may occur within the <br />area of influence of the Loadout facility (see Attachment 11 -1) <br />HGTI conducted a recent literature search to update information in the permit application <br />package on endangered, threatened and species of special interest. CROW and ELM, in <br />partnership with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP, 2008), keep information on <br />area wildlife including big game and game birds and other species of concern (CDOW, 2008; <br />and ELM, 2008). This includes federally- and state - listed threatened or endangered species <br />and other species considered to be rare or of special interest. In addition, USFWS recently <br />updated -the Colorado Colorado endangered, threatened, proposed and candidate species listing <br />( USFWS, 2008). Table 11 -5, Fish and Wildlife Endangered, Threatened, or Candidate Species <br />and Species of Concern for the Hayden Gulch Loadout Permit Area, summarizes the current <br />species listings. <br />Habitat for the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and razorback sucker does not <br />occur within the permit area. Critical habitat for these fishes exists in the Yampa River <br />downstream in Moffat County. in addition to the absence of perennial stream flow with <br />suitable habitat, the Dry Creek diversion, which diverts flow from Dry Creek into the Walker <br />Ditch downstream of the facility area effectively precludes any fishes attempting to enter <br />the upper reaches of Dry Creek. <br />The USFWS believes that major causes for the decline of bcnytail, Colorado pikeminnow, <br />humpback chub and razorback sucker includes water depletion in the Upper and Lower Colorado <br />River Basin. They have indicated that any such depletion will be considered as a negative <br />impact. Operation of the Loadout facility has the potential to cause a net depletion in the <br />Yampa downstream of Dry Creek due to the retention of water in the two sediment ponds, and <br />withdrawal of water from the Yampa River alluvium for consumption use by H -G Shallow Well <br />No. 1. Mitigation measures for this potential impact are presented in Tab 21, Fish and <br />Wildlife Plan. <br />RN -03 <br />11 Revised 06/08 <br />