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

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RULE 2 PERMITS golden eagles, two by red - tailed hawks, and one by a long -eared owl. Four nest sites (three golden eagle and one red - tailed hawk) were active in both years. Raptor nesting in the Wildlife Study Area occurred in rock outcrop and trees along drainages (Map 15B Sheet 1 and Table 2.04.11 -17). The aspen forest in the higher elevations of the Wildlife Study Area (approximately the southern one -third of the study area) could also support nesting by forest dwelling raptors. However, due to snow conditions these areas were not surveyed in the spring seasons. Furthermore, summer surveys in the aspen forest may not have adequately identified nests due to the decreased ability to detect nests when trees have their leaves. Thirty-six nest sites were located within the Collom permit expansion area. Eleven of these nests were active in 2006 and /or 2007, including one golden eagle nest (Table 2.04.11 -17). Eight nest sites within Little Collom Gulch would be within or near mining disturbance at Little Collom X (Map 15B Sheet 1). Two of these were occupied in at least one year: Nest 33 used by Cooper's hawk in 2006 but not 2007, and Nest 51 used by Long -eared owl in 2006 but not 2007. Both nests were located in box elder trees. Greater Sage- Grouse — The largest number of greater sage - grouse in Colorado occur in the northwestern portion of the state, with Moffat County supporting the majority of breeding populations within the region (Northwest Colorado Greater Sage- Grouse Working Group [GSGWG] 2008). The population in northwest Colorado exhibited an increasing trend from 1997 -2005. Overall, sage grouse populations in Colorado have been increasing and there has been no dramatic decline since the 1960s. Braun (1995) determined that sage grouse populations in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties are secure. In general, sage grouse use of reclaimed mine areas in Colorado has been slow to develop because of the species reliance on big sagebrush, which is difficult to establish in reclamation efforts (GSGWG 2008). GIS data (CDOW 2008) indicate greater sage - grouse production areas across the northern two - thirds of the Colowyo revised permit area (i.e., existing permit area plus Collom expansion), and brooding habitat occurs in the northwest portion of the area and a small area in the northeastern corner (Map 15B Sheet 2). Winter sage grouse range occurs across the northern and northwestern portion of the Colowyo revised permit area, and severe winter range is delineated to the north. Nine greater sage - grouse leks have been documented in the Collom Wildlife Study Area (Map 15B Sheet 2). Three of these leks were active (i.e., at least one sage - grouse present) in both 2006 and 2007, including SG7, Morgan 2A, and Morgan 3. Abundance of grouse at these leks was substantially higher compared to the other leks that were surveyed. Two sage - grouse leks were active only in 2007 and abundance was low (five or fewer grouse). Four leks were inactive both years (Cedar Creek 2006, 2007). In 2006, abundance at active leks ranged from one sage - grouse (one male, no females) at the Morgan -3 lek, up to 31 sage - grouse (25 males, six females) at the SG7 lek (Table 2.04.11 -18). In 2007, abundance at active leks ranged from two sage - grouse (2 males, no females) at the SG4 and SG8 -Upper Morgan leks, up to 45 sage - grouse (42 males, 3 females) at the Morgan -2A lek. Abundance appeared to fluctuate among years; however, only one site visit was made each year. Therefore, this variation in counts could be due to sampling variation rather than actual changes in abundance. Four sage grouse leks were located within the Collom permit expansion area (2 were active) (Table 2.04.11 -18). Leks SG3 and SG4 would be within or near mining disturbance at Little Collom X (Map 15B Sheet 2). SG3 was inactive in both 2006 and 2007. No grouse were observed at SG4 in 2006, and two males were observed at SG4 in 2007. Columbian Sharp - tailed Grouse — Columbian sharp - tai ±ed grouse populations in Colorado are healthy compared to other portions of their range. Revegetation and reclamation of mining disturbance may Collom — Rule 2, Page 84 Revision Date: 9/28/11 Revision No.: PR -03