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SITE DISQUALIFICATION REPORT FOR
PREBLF'S MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE
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AND OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF
FIREAIENED/ENDANGERED SPECIES
HEIT SAND AND GRAVEL MINE SITE
WELD COUNTY, COLROADO
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U S Fish and Wildlife Service
Colorado Field Office
755 Parfet Street. Suite 361
l akewood Colorado 80215
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SITE DISQUALIFICATION REPORT FOR
PREBLE'S MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE AND
OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THREATENED/ENDANGERED SPECIES
HEIT SAND AND GRAVEL MINE SITE
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
Prepared for:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Colorado Field Office
755 Parfet Street, Suite 361
Lakewood, Colorado 80215
Prepared on behalf of:
Banks and Gesso, LLC
720 Kipling Street, Suite 117
Lakewood, Colorado 80215
303.274-4277
Prepared by:
WALSH Environmental, LLC
4888 Pearl East Circle, Suite 108
Boulder, Colorado 80301
303-443-3282
August 22, 2003
Site Disqualification Report for Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse and
Overall Assessment of Threatened/Endangered Species
Heit Mine Site, Weld County, Colorado •
HAugust 22, 2003
1. INTRODUCTION
This SITE DISQUALIFICATION REPORT presents the results of an evaluation of habitat
suitability for Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) in conjunction with the
proposed Heit Sand and Gravel Mine northwest of Fort Lupton in Weld County, Colorado. The
site is located in an area that currently is being used for irrigated agriculture, northwest of the
intersection of Weld County Roads 25 and 20% (Figure 1), Universal Transverse Mercator
(UTM) coordinates of the approximate center of the site are Northing 4442750 and Easting
514200. Elevation of the site averages approximately 4,850 feet above mean sea level.
The ecological assessment was performed in early August 2003 by Allen B. Crockett, Ph.D.,
Senior Ecologist with Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers, LLC, at the request of Mr.
Tug Martin of Banks and Gesso, LLC. In conjunction with the assessment of habitat suitability
and potential for occurrence of Preble's mouse, the survey and this report also address other
federally listed threatened or endangered species and other species of special concern.
A letter to Ms. Samantha Schroeder of Banks and Gesso, LLC, from Mr. Allan R. Pfister of U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (signed for Mr. Pfister by Mr. Peter Plage and dated July 8, 2003),
specifically mentioned Preble's mouse and the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and
included a listed of threatened or endangered species in Colorado.
2. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT
The need for the habitat evaluation for Preble's mouse and the bald eagle arose because the
western edge of the property contains a wetland complex along Meadow Island Ditch No. 1,
which traverses the southwestern corner of the site, and extending northward along a historic
drainageway that flows northward and joins the South Platte River in Section 12 (Figure 1).
Additionally, the site is located less than 100 meters from the South Platte River, which supports
a major riparian habitat.
Although Meadow Island Ditch No. 1 and the wetland complex in the western part of the site are
dominated by herbaceous species, they contain some habitat component characteristic of areas
in which Preble's mouse may occur. However, the ditch and wetland complex are heavily
dominated by herbaceous species with scattered trees and very few of the willow shrubs or
other riparian and riparian-margin species with which Preble's mouse is usually associated.
The wetland complex also provides potentially suitable habitat for the federally listed Ute ladies'-
tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) and Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp.
coloradensis). The nearby riparian corridor along the South Platte River provides potential
winter roosting habitat and potential nesting habitat for the federally listed bald eagle. No other
federally listed or proposed species are potentially present, based on existing habitat conditions
and land uses.
Other wildlife species of special concern that were observed onsite or are likely to occur include
the great blue heron, which was seen feeding along Meadow Island Ditch No. 1 within the
property and could nest along the South Platte River, and a variety of birds of prey that could
nest or perch along the river or in mature trees along nearby ditches. Examples of likely raptors
include the red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, American
kestrel, great horned owl, long-eared owl, and eastern screech-owl. No diurnal raptors (hawks
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Site Disqualification Report for Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse and
Overall Assessment of Threatened/Endangered Species
Heit Mine Site, Weld County, Colorado August 22, 2003
or falcons) were seen during the site survey in August 2003, after the completion of the raptor
nesting season, and no nocturnal surveys were conducted to search for owls.
The great blue heron, other wading birds or shorebirds potentially associated with Meadow
Island Ditch No. 1, riparian birds potentially associated with the wetland complex, arboreal birds
potentially associated with the large trees, and other bird species expected to occur onsite are
afforded protection under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act but are not federally listed or
state-listed as threatened or endangered.
One state-listed species, the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is potentially present wherever
prairie dogs are present. This small owl nests and roosts in abandoned prairie dog colonies and
is present in the Front Range region of Colorado from March 1 through October 31.
3. BASIS FOR REQUEST FOR DISQUALIFICATION - PREBLE'S MOUSE
This request for a determination by USFWS that a live-trapping presence/absence survey for
Preble's mouse is not necessary and that the proposed sand and gravel mine would not
adversely affect the species is based on the following:
• The Meadow Island Ditch No. 1 and the wetland complex in the western part of the
site are heavily dominated by herbaceous wetland plants with scattered large trees
and almost no willow shrubs or other riparian shrub species.
• The upstream and downstream reaches of the ditch and wetland complex are
ecologically similar, also generally lacking the type of riparian shrub community
normally associated with Preble's mouse.
• The South Platte River in the Fort Lupton area is not known to support Preble's
mouse, including live-trapping surveys in areas north of Fort Lupton.
• The closest reach of the South Platte River, while less than the 300 feet normally
used by USFWS to define potential habitat, is separated from the site by cropland
and manicured lawns associated with several rural residences adjacent to the
riparian corridors and by CR 25.
• The portion of the site to be used for sand and gravel mining is currently an onion
field with no potential use by Preble's mouse.
• Even if the wetland complex to the west and the South Platte River riparian corridor
to the east were to receive some use by Preble's mouse, the proposed sand and
gravel operation would not affect the potentially suitable, but presumably
unoccupied, wetland and riparian areas.
Based on the conditions described above and shown in Figure 1 and Photos 1 through 8, it is
reasonable to conclude that Preble's mouse is unlikely to occur onsite or to be affected by the
proposed Heit Sand and Gravel Mine, and that no live-trapping surveys or special conservation
measures (aside from avoiding the wetland complex) are necessary to ensure that the proiect
does not adversely affect individuals, populations, or occupied habitat of this species.
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Site Disqualification Report for Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse and
Overall Assessment of Threatened/Endangered Species
Heit Mine Site, Weld County, Colorado August 22, 2003
4. OTHER SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN
4.1 Bald Eagle
Bald eagles are known to roost along the South Platte River in much of the Front Range region
of Colorado during winter. However, no specific bald eagle winter roost site has been identified
in the reach adjacent to the Heit Mine property. Moreover, the adjacent rural residences and
intensive agricultural use along this reach probably make this stretch of the river less suitable
that areas adjacent to more open rangeland terrain that provides hunting habitat for prairie dogs
and other upland species in addition to the favored prey—fish and waterfowl.
No bald eagle nests are known to occur nearby, although nesting has occurred recently in the
general region, including sites at Standley Lake in Jefferson County, Barr Lake in Adams
County, and the Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County.
In the unlikely event that a communal winter roost or nest were to occur nearby. the Heit Mine
proponent agrees to time initiation of construction to avoid the critical bald eagle roosting or
nesting season, if use by this species is documented.
4.2 Other Wildlife of Special Concern
No communal great blue heron nesting areas ('rookeries") have been identified in proximity to
the project area. A great blue heron was observed along Meadow Island Ditch No. 1 during the
site survey in August 2003, and regular movement between the South Platte River corridor and
the ditch and nearby wetland complex is likely. Although mining may cause herons initially to
divert their flight paths across what is now an onion field, it is unlikely that they would avoid
using the suitable habitat west of the mine over the long term.
No raptor nests are known to occur onsite, although it is likely that one or more of the raptors
listed above would use mature trees along the river, the ditch, or the wetland complex for
nesting and perching. Although converting onion fields to a sand and gravel mine could cause
some disturbance initially, it is unlikely to affect long-term patterns of use. The Heit Mine
proponent agrees to time initiation of construction to avoid the nesting season if a nest of a
sensitive raptor species is found to nest within the buffer zone distances established by CDOW
(Gerald R. Craig, February 8, 2002). These widths range from 75 yards for burrowing owls and
American kestrels to 1/4 mile for Swainson's hawk and 1/3 mile for the red-tailed hawk. No
buffer zones are established for nocturnal owls.
Mining activities would not be expected to affect use of the ditch, wetland complex, or riparian
corridor by small birds, including neotropical migrant songbirds, or by other wildlife — assuming
that the wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitats are not affected by decreases in water or inflow
of sediment or other pollutants.
4.3 Federally Listed Plants
In conjunction with the site survey in August 2003, a flowering survey was conducted for the Ute
ladies'-tresses orchid and the Colorado butterfly plant along the Meadow Island Ditch No. 1 and
wetland complex. Neither species was observed, and their habitat would be avoided by the
proposed sand and gravel operation.
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p ^e United States Department of the Interior
O� `�y9pp
.tea-t. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
9gCN s �as Ecological Services
Colorado Field Office
755 Parfet Street, Suite 361
Lakewood. Colorado 80215
IN REPLY REFER TO:
ES/CO: T&E/PMJM/Other
Mail Stop 65412
SEP - 5 2003
Allen Crockett
Walsh Environmental, LLC
4888 Pearl East Circle, Suite 108
Boulder, Colorado 80301
Dear Mr. Crockett:
Based on the authority conferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) by die
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended(16 U.S.C. 1531 a seq.), the Service
reviewed the Preble's meadow jumping mouse, Zapus hudsoniuspreblei(Preble's), habitat
assessment and request for site disqualification submitted with your report of August 22, 2003.
This report regards the proposed site plan review for the Heit Sand and Gravel Mine Site
northwest of Fort Lupton tn Weld County, Colorado.
Based on the information provided, and given your compliance with the Preble's survey
guidelines, the Service finds die report acceptable and agrees that a population of Preble's is not
likely to be present within the subject area. Thus, this site is disqualified for Preble's consideration
under provisions of the ESA. Should Preble's populations exist downstream from the site, actions
on the site that result in significant modifications of Preble's habitat downstream (for example,
through alteration of existing flow regimes, or sedimentation) may be subject to provisions of the
ESA.
Additionally, the Service agrees that the proposed project should not have direct adverse affects to
populations of the following federally-listed threatened, endangered or special concern species:
bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Ute ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes dtluvialis), Colorado
butterfly plant(Guam neoinexiccuaa coloradensis), great blue heron (Arden herodias), burrowing
owl (Speotyto cunicularia) and other raptors (red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, Cooper's hawk,
sharp-shinned hawk, American kestrel, great homed owl, long-eared owl, eastern screech owl). If
a communal winter roost or nest site for bald eagles, or other raptors, is found on site or within the
CDOW established buffer zone distances, please notify the Service and follow recommendations
for avoidance as provided in the assessment report.
As the Meadow Island Ditch No. 1 is connected to the South Platte River, if the proposed project
involves a federal action and elements associated with existing or new depletions to the Platte
River system, formal section 7 consultation may be required tor effects to listed species and critical
habitat ur the central Platte River in Nebraska. In general, depletions include evaporative losses
and/or consumptive use less return flows. Project elements that could be associated with
depletions to the Platte River system include, but are not limited to, ponds
(detention/recreation/irrigation storage), lakes (recreation/irrigation storage/municipal
storage/power generation), reservoirs (recreation/irrigation storage/municipal storage/power
generation), pipelines, and water treatment facilities.
If a formal section 7 consultation is required, the Service will make every effort to accommodate
the applicant's schedules to prevent project delays. If your office or the applicant would like to
discuss the proposed project in relation to Platte River system depletive issues in Colorado, please
contact Sandy Vana-Miller of my staff at (303) 275-2310.
Page 2
Please submit a completed Survey Field Data Compilation Form for the abovementioned project,
as a Data Compilation Form is required when submitting trapping or site assessment reports,
including requests for site disqualifications.
This determination is valid for one year from date of this letter unless new information warrants
revision of the determination within that time. If the proposed project has not begun within one
year, please contact the Service to request a project extension.
If the Service can be of further assistance, please contact Barbara Spagnuolo of my staff at(303)
275-2370.
Sincerely,
Susan C. Limier
Colorado Field Supervisor
cc: Tug Martin, Banks and Gesso, LLC
FINS/CFO B. Spagnuolo
Reference:BIS\Weld\Heilmine.wpd
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