Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.05 Raptor Survey Report RAPTOR SURVEY REPORT CAERUS OIL AND GAS BJU N23-496 CDP Cover Photo: Habitat conditions at the site of the proposed BJU N23 496 CDP location. Prepared for: Caerus Oil and Gas 143 Diamond Avenue Parachute, CO 81635 Prepared by: May 2021 WestWater Engineering Page 2 of 9 May 2021 INTRODUCTION Caerus Oil and Gas (Caerus) requested that WestWater Engineering (WestWater) conduct raptor surveys for the proposed BJU N23-496 CDP location (Figure 1). The project would be located on private surface with minerals owned by the federal government and administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) White River Field Office (WRFO) in Section 23, Township 4 South, Range 96 West. Raptor surveys were conducted on May 15, 2021. The objectives of the surveys were to locate raptor (bird of prey) nest sites and identify potential raptor habitat and use areas. PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION Terrain The proposed CDP would be located on a ridgetop east of the East Fork of Stewart Gulch. The ridgetop is divided by ephemeral drainages that typically drain west into the East Fork of Stewart Gulch or east into an unnamed tributary. The BJU N23-496 would be situated at an elevation of approximately 8,180 feet (Figure 1). Terrain in the general vicinity is composed of rolling ridges divided by draws and drainages that flow north toward Piceance Creek. Soils and Geology The project would be located on two soil types as described in Table 1 (NRCS 2020). Table 1. Soils occurring in the project area. Map Unit Symbol Soil Name Description 53 Parachute-Rhone loams, 5 to 30 percent slopes Occurs on mountain slopes at an elevation of 7,600 to 8,600 feet. Parent material is colluvium over residuum weathered from sandstone and shale. 61 Rhone loam, 30 to 70 percent slopes Occurs on ridges and mountainsides from 7,600 to 8,600 feet in elevation; parent material is Marl and/or residuum weathered from sandstone. Not prime farmland Vegetation The proposed project would be located in a vegetation community composed primarily of sagebrush shrublands with an understory of native forbs and grasses. Aspen woodlands, mountain shrublands, and oakbrush shrublands are present along the sideslopes and draws surrounding the project area. Common plants observed in the project area are described in Table 2. WestWater Engineering Page 3 of 9 May 2021 Table 2. Common plant species occurring in the project area. Common Name Scientific Name Abundance* Habitat Type Grasses and Grass-like plants Basin wildrye Leymus cinereus x Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata xx Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis x Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum x Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides x Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis xx Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Needle and thread Hesperostipa comata x Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha xx Sagebrush shrublands Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda xxx Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Smooth brome Bromus inermis x Sagebrush shrublands, mountain shrub Forbs Arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagitta xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Barneby's thistle Cirsium barnebyi x Sagebrush shrubland Bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata x Sagebrush shrubland Common dandelion Taraxacum officinale x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Common yarrow Achillea millefolium xx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius xx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub WestWater Engineering Page 4 of 9 May 2021 Table 2. Common plant species occurring in the project area. Common Name Scientific Name Abundance* Habitat Type Geyer's sedge Carex geyeri x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Hollyleaf clover Trifolium gymnocarpon x Sagebrush shrubland Lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Lobeleaf groundsel Packera multilobata x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia xx Sagebrush shrubland Mat penstemon Penstemon caespitosus x Sagebrush shrubland Mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans x Sagebrush shrubland Navajo fleabane Erigeron concinnus x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Northwestern Indian paintbrush Castilleja chromosa xx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis x Sagebrush shrubland Rayless tansyaster Machaeranthera grindelioides x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Rocky Mountain springparsley Cymopterus planosus xx Sagebrush shrubland Rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Silvery lupine Lupinus argenteus xx Sagebrush, mountain shrub Spiny phlox Phlox hoodii xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Sulphur flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Thriftmock goldenweed Stenotus armerioides x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub WestWater Engineering Page 5 of 9 May 2021 Table 2. Common plant species occurring in the project area. Common Name Scientific Name Abundance* Habitat Type Twolobe larkspur Delphinium nuttallianum x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Winged buckwheat Eriogonum alatum xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Shrubs/Trees Antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata xx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae x Sagebrush shrubland Creeping barberry Berberis repens x Mountain shrub Gambel's oak Quercus gambelii xx Mountain shrub Mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanus xx Mountain shrub Mountain snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus xxx Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides x Mountain shrub Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis xxx Mountain shrub Woods’ Rose Rosa woodsii x Mountain shrub Mountain Sagebrush Artemisa tridentata ssp. Vasayana xxx Sagebrush shrubland Yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidflorus x Sagebrush shrubland, mountain shrub * x= uncommon in project area. xx= moderate frequency throughout project area. xxx = common frequency throughout project area. SURVEY METHODS Data locations were recorded using handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units (Datum: Zone 12, NAD83) and photographs were taken of the habitat, terrain, and biological features found during the survey. Aerial photographs were consulted to determine survey routes and areas of suitable raptor nesting habitat. Raptor surveys were conducted on foot within a 0.25-mile buffer of the project features in suitable woodland raptor nesting habitat (Figure 2). Raptor surveys for the project were conducted in accordance with WRFO protocols (Smithers 2012) during May 2021. Survey WestWater Engineering Page 6 of 9 May 2021 transects in suitable woodland habitat were spaced approximately 50 meters apart or less in areas of highly suitable habitat. Woodland raptor nest surveys were aided by using call playback methodology (Iverson and Fuller 1991; Kennedy and Stahlecker 1993; Mosher and Fuller 1996; Mosher et. al. 1990; Reynolds et. al. 1992) using electronic digital game calls. Call station locations are depicted on Figure 2. Data collected included tree height, nest height, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), nest diameter, nest depth, nest slope, nest aspect, nest status, (occupied, unoccupied, or unknown), and general condition of the nest. RESULTS Mature aspen woodlands and oakbrush shrublands within the survey area provide suitable raptor nesting habitat. Approximately 67 acres of suitable woodland raptor nesting habitat were surveyed (Figure 2). In suitable woodland nesting habitat, tree height ranged from 20 feet to 60 feet on average. There are no suitable cliffs or rock outcrops within one-half mile of the project area to support nesting raptors. Several species of raptors may potentially inhabit the region (Table 3) (Andrews and Righter 1992, Sibley 2000, and Wickersham 2016). Common species include Cooper’s Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Long-eared Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, and Sharp-shinned Hawk. The Flammulated Owl is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) and Northern Goshawk is a BLM Sensitive Species (USFWS 2008 and BLM 2015). Table 3. Raptor species that may be present in the project area. Common Name Scientific Name BCC /BLM Sensitive American Kestrel Falco sparverius No Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii No Flammulated Owl Otus flammeolus BCC Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus No Long-eared Owl Asio otus No Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis BLM Sensitive Northern Pygmy Owl Glaucidium gnoma No Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus No Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis No Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus No Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni No Observations No raptor nests were observed during surveys (Figure 2). A Red-tailed Hawk was observed flying in the project area; however, the hawk did not display defensive behavior that would indicate potential nesting nearby. Recommendations If project related activities (i.e. construction, drilling and completions) are delayed to a subsequent year, during the breeding and nesting period (Feb. 1 to Aug. 15) for raptors, it is recommended that a raptor survey be conducted by a qualified biologist prior to activities WestWater Engineering Page 7 of 9 May 2021 occurring. If an occupied raptor nest is observed during subsequent surveys, it is recommended that the timing limitations be applied from February 1 to August 15th or until the chicks have fledged the nest, as outlined in the BLM WRFO Resource Management Plan and Oil and Gas Development Amendment (BLM 1997 and BLM 2015). REFERENCES Andrews, R., and R. Righter. 1992. Colorado Birds: A Reference to Their Distribution and Habitat. Denver Museum of Natural History, Colorado. BLM. 2015. BLM Colorado State Director’s Sensitive Species List. Bureau of Land Management, Colorado. BLM. 2019. White River Field Office (WRFO), Little Snake Field Office (LSFO), Kremmling Field Office (KFO), Standards for Contractor Inventories for Special Status Plant Species & Noxious Weed Affiliates, Field Season 2019. Bureau of Land Management, White River Field Office, Meeker, CO. Iverson, G.C. and M.R. Fuller. 1991. Woodland nesting raptor survey techniques. Pp 118-124 in Proc. Midwest Raptor Management Symposium and Workshop. National Wildlife Federation, Washington D.C. Kennedy, P. L., and D.W. Stahlecker. 1993. Responsiveness of nesting northern goshawks to taped broadcasts of 3 conspecific calls. Journal of Wildlife Management 57: 249-257. Kershaw, L., A. MacKinnon, and J. Pojar. 1998. Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Lone Pine Publishing, Auburn, Washington. Mosher, J.A. and M.R. Fuller. 1996. Surveying woodland hawks with broadcasts of Great Horned Owl vocalization. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 24: 531-536. Mosher, J.A., M.R. Fuller, and M. Kopeny. 1990. Surveying woodland raptors by broadcast of conspecific vocalizations. Journal of Field Ornithology. 61:453-461. NRCS. 2021. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. Available online at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/. Reynolds, R. T., R. T. Graham, M. H. Reiser, R. L. Bassett, P. L. Kennedy, D. A. Boyce Jr., G. Goodwin, R. Smith and E. L Fisher. 1992. Management recommendations for the northern goshawk in the southwestern United States. General Technical Report RMGTR- 217, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, Colorado. Sibley D.A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, New York. Smithers, B. 2012. White River Field Office Diurnal Raptor Survey Protocol. U.S. Bureau of Land Management, White River Field Office, Meeker, CO. USFWS. 2008. Birds of Conservation Concern 2008. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, Virginia. Wickersham, L.E. (editor). 2016. Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas. Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver. WestWater Engineering Page 1 of 9 May 2021 WestWater Engineering Page 2 of 9 May 2021