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* iii iiiiuiiiiiii iii ~ <br />COOLEY AND FULTON LAKES PIT <br />EXHIBIT H - WII.DLIFE INFORMATION <br />A survey to determine the presence of the Zapus hudsonius preblei (Prebles meadow jumping mouse) <br />was conducted on the property in the fall of 1997. This survey and the acceptance of the survey by <br />the United States Department of Interior-Fish and Wildlife Service are attached as pages 3 - 6 of this <br />Exhibit H. There was no indication of this mouse at the time of the survey. If present, this mouse <br />would likely be present in the riparian zone along the River. The proposed mining plan is to preserve <br />this area. Therefore, even if this mouse was found to be present on site at a later date, the proposed <br />plan is not Wcely to lead to the destruction of any habitat where the mouse either might exist or could <br />become established at a later date. <br />In preparing this Exhibit, representatives of the Colorado Division of Wildlife visited the site in <br />November. On this site visit, no endangered/critical species were observed, nor were any prairie dog <br />colonies found. The Division of Wildlife's Mined Land Wildlife StatementlEvaluation is also attached <br />as pages 7 - 8 of this Exhibit. <br />A brief summary of the existing wildlife and the affect the mining will have on the wildlife is given <br />below by the parcels identified on Exhibit C-1, Pre-Mining/Existing Conditions Map: <br />A - This parcel has good wildlife habitat, because of the existing stands of cottonwood and <br />willows and riparian areas along the S. Platte River. The preservation of most of the existing <br />tree stands in the riparian areas along the S. Platte River, and the creation of new wetland in <br />areas presently covered with non-irrigated grasses and noxious weeds will certainly enhance <br />the wildlife environment on this Parcel. <br />B - There are some good areas of wildlife habitat, particularly the 1+ acre area of probable <br />jurisdictional wetlands along the Fulton Ditch in the center of this parcel and in the riparian <br />areas along the S. Platte River. The riparian areas along the S. Platte River will not be <br />disturbed, and thus the wildlife resource in this area will be preserved. The wetland area <br />along the Fulton Ditch is proposed to be excavated, but replaced with the to be created <br />wetlands on Parcel A subject to approval of a 404 permit for this activity. Thus in the short <br />run, a wetland area will be removed, but replaced with an new wetland area on the adjacent <br />Parcel A. In the long run most ofthe area proposed for excavation, which presently contains <br />non-irrigated grasses and weedy ground cover, will be replaced with a shallow lake and/or <br />wetlands vegetation. This will eventually result in the creation of a great amount of wetland <br />vegetation area than presently exists on site and thus will be a positive benefit to the wildlife <br />environment. <br />