2013-05-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981028A

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Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse The Preble's meadow jumping mouse was listed as a threatened species in 1998. • Preble's meadow jumping mice are long-lived rodents (two to three yeazs) whose food consists of insects, seeds, fungus, and fruit (L1SDI, 2002). They are active in the summer months along river comdors, ditches, and wetlands, but hibernate over the winter away from water in an upland setting. Characteristic habitat for the mouse occurs below 7400 feet elevation within the South Platte River 100-year floodplain, tributaries, and associated wet meadow complexes (from the Front Range to Ft. Morgan, Colorado} in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Elbert, Larimer, Morgan, and Weld counties. The USFWS has described the chazacteristic habitat of the mouse as areas with the following features; low undergrowth with grasses and forbs, in open wet meadows and riparian corridors or where tall shrubs and low trees provide cover. The mouse prefers mesic to hydric lowlands, and has been found in agricultural and native landscapes, along irrigation canals, and natural drainages, as well as areas dominated by both introduced and native plant species. USFWS is also requiring surveys in areas with seeps, native hayfields, stream channels, and floodplains. As the mine lies outside the known range of the mouse and there is no chaacteristic habitat, there is no likelihood of impacts to the Preble's meadow jumping mouse from the mine. Ute Ladies'-tresses Orchid • The Ute ladies'-tresses orchid was listed as a threatened species in 1992. The orchid is a perennial terrestrial orchid distinguished from its close relatives by distinct floral attributes. Chazacteristic orchid habitat is described as relatively low elevation riparian, spring, and lakeside wetland meadows near the base of the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in southeastern Wyoming and north central and central Colorado, the Upper Colorado River basin, and along the Wasatch Front and eastward in the Great Basin. )n Colorado, populations aze known from South Boulder Creek, Clear Creek, St. Vrain Creek, and the Cache La Poudre River. Historically, they were identified along the South Platte River in 1856, but no extant populations are known currently within the study corridor. As the mine lies outside the known range of the orchid and there is no chaacteristic habitat, there is no likelihood of impacts to the Ute Ladies-tresses orchid from the mine. Whooping Crane The whooping crane is a large wading bird that nests in Alberta; Canada and winters along the Texas coast. Whooping cranes were listed endangered. in 1967 with very low numbers. Experimental breeding of whooping cranes has increased numbers to near 300 birds. Migration routes from breeding grounds in Canada cross the central United States, including northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska. During migration cranes utilize freshwater marshes and wet azeas of prairies, often with shallow water and small in overall size (NatureServe, 2006a). 96b 10/06