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~II ~I~~I~~~~~~~~ ~I~ 999 Savage and Savage praclicd solutions for errvironmenrai problems 464 West Sumac Court Louisville, Colorado 80027-2227 August 18, 1999 Peter Plage U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Colorado Field Office Denver Federal Center P.O. Box 25486 Denver, Colorado 80225 303 666-7372 telephone 303665.6808 facsimile au~ END Banks ~ Ge ~ 099.9 '~C Re: Request for Concurrence on Disqualification for Zapus hudsonius preblei at the Ft. Lupton Property (S'/xNW'/. Section 30, T2N, R66W Weld County, Colorado) Dear Mr. Plage: Banks and Gesso, LLC is developing a preliminary mine plan to conduct mineral extraction and reclamation (sand and gravel) operations within the above azea over the next few years. The operation will entail removal and stockpiling of topsoil material, extraction of the sand and gravel, backfilling and grading, retopsoiling, and seeding. The mining and reclamation plan will be reviewed and approved by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology in the next few months. Prior to finalizing the mining and reclamation plan, Banks and Gesso would like to evaluate the future mineral extraction areas for potential impacts to threatened and endangered species. One of the potentially present species is the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service May 21, 1999 interim survey guidelines indicate the project area requires a survey for the following reasons; the elevation of the site is below 7600' (project site elevation is between 4770 and 4780 feet), and is located within and adjacent to the 100-yeaz floodplain of the South Platte River. Based on field investigations conducted by Savage and Savage July 30 and August 17, ] 999, as well as reference and literature review, we believe this site has very low potential to harbor individuals or a population of Zapus hudsonius preblei for the following reasons. The project site (Figure 1) and adjacent areas have been highly disturbed and modified from then natural condition (Figure 2, 3). The project area has been cultivated for a number of yeazs. Curtently, one field is fallow (approximately 20 acres) and the remaining fields are planted to lettuce and beans, using row irrigation (Figure 4). One irrigation delivery ditch bisects the property from south to north. The slopes of the ditch aze dominated by a thick monoculture of Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass), and