2013-04-10_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (5)

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RULE 2 PERMITS Mountain shrub habitat in the Collom permit expansion area is dominated by mountain snowberry, bluegrass, and Gambel oak. Other woody plants in this type include chokecherry, serviceberry, and big sagebrush. Avian species that may use mountain shrub habitat in the Collom expansion area include songbirds (American robin, black- capped chickadee, dark -eyed junco, green - tailed towhee, house wren, lazuli bunting, orange- crowned warbler, Stellar's jay, Virginia's warbler), upland game birds (Columbian sharp- tailed grouse), and raptors (Cooper's hawk, sharp - shinned hawk). Possible mammals include little brown myotis and predators such as mountain lion and black bear. Mountain shrub habitat is also important to mule deer for foraging and security cover. Aspen habitat within the Collom permit expansion area potentially supports avian species such as American robin, black - capped chickadee, hermit thrush, house wren, northern flicker, violet -green swallow, warbling vireo, blue grouse, MacGillivray's warbler, and orange- crowned warbler. Various forest raptor species such as northern goshawk, Cooper's hawks, and sharp- shinned hawk may breed in this habitat type. In addition, aspen forests provide important thermal cover, security cover, and foraging habitat for both elk and mule deer. Potential predators in this habitat include mountain lion, black bear, and bobcat. Other possible mammal species include silver- haired bat and long- tailed vole. In addition to the CWCS /WAP and PIF plans, the Conservation Plan for Grassland Species in Colorado was reviewed for wildlife species known to occur in grasslands of western Colorado. Avian species that may be found in grasslands in the area include black rosy -finch (winter), bobolink, brown - headed cowbird, horned lark, loggerhead shrike, mountain bluebird, mountain plover, vesper sparrow, Columbian sharp- tailed grouse, and mourning dove. Grasslands also provide potential foraging and /or breeding habitat for many open- country raptor species, such as American kestrel, ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, great horned owl, northern harrier, prairie falcon, rough- legged hawk (winter), short-eared owl, Swainson's hawk, and turkey vulture. Known or possible mammal species include American badger, white - tailed jackrabbit, thirteen -lined ground squirrel, northern pocket gopher, and white - tailed prairie dog. Elk and deer heavily use grasslands for foraging. A few pronghorn antelope have also been observed in the grasslands. Pinyon juniper woodlands occupy a portion of the Collom permit expansion area. Avian species of interest that may occur in this habitat type include black- throated gray warbler, chipping sparrow, dark - eyed junco, gray flycatcher, gray vireo, hermit thrush, Lewis's woodpecker, orange- crowned warbler, pinyon jay, and Virginia's warbler. Mammal species potentially include little brown myotis and predators such as mountain lion and bobcat. Like the aspen habitat, this type provides security habitat for elk and deer. The bottomland type is an aggregate of various vegetation sub -types that occur in deep soils and mesic conditions within drainages (Cedar Creek 2006). Density of vegetation is greater in bottomland communities than surrounding uplands, even where the vegetation species are the same. Because bottomlands encompass various vegetation sub - types, wildlife species are described only for the wetland subtype since this type has not been described above. There are limited wetlands in the Collom permit expansion area and they primarily occur along streams. The vegetation ranges from wet meadows within the alluvial deposition areas to heavily vegetated herbaceous strips along the stream banks (Cedar Creek 2006). These areas provide potential habitat for amphibian species, such as western chorus frog and northern leopard frog. Reptile species, such as western terrestrial garter snake, may occur in and near drainages, and western yellowbelly racer has recently been observed in drainages (Cedar Creek 2006). Mammals, including western jumping mouse and raccoon, may also use drainages. Killdeer and long - billed curlew (migration) are avian species that may use grassy wetlands. Other avian species that may use drainages with woody vegetation include Abert's towhee, American robin, Bell's ,ireo, black swift, black- throated gray warbler, broaa- tailed Collom — Rule 2, Page 81 Revision Date: 9/28/11 Revision No.: PR -03