Biological & Historical Resource Surveys Pitkin County, City of Aspen & Snowmass Village Open Space Pitkin County, Colorado prepared for: Pitkin County Open Space & Trails 530 E. Main St. Suite 300, Aspen, CO 81611 prepared by: Western Ecological Resource, Inc. 711 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302 & Wildlife Specialties, LLC PO Box 1231, Lyons, CO 80540 October 2011 Table of Contents Section / Title Page 1.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Location and Landform ...................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Climate ..............................................................................................................................2 2.3 Geology ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.4 Existing Management ......................................................................................................... 3 3.0 Wildlife Resources ................................................................................................................ 3 3.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................................... 3 3.1.1 Colorado Division of Wildlife ..................................................................................... 4 3.1.2 Federally Listed Species .............................................................................................. 4 3.1.3 BLM & USFS Sensitive Species .................................................................................... 5 3.1.4 Colorado Natural Heritage Program Data .................................................................... 9 3.1.5 Private Development & Ski Area Reports ................................................................... 10 3.1.5 Pitkin County Open Space & Trails Reports ............................................................... 10 3.1.6 Summary .................................................................................................................. 11 3.2 Baseline Surveys .............................................................................................................. 11 3.2.1 General Wildlife Surveys ........................................................................................... 11 3.2.1.1 Survey Methods .................................................................................................. 11 3.2.1.2 Results ................................................................................................................ 11 3.2.2 Avian Point Counts ................................................................................................... 12 3.2.2.1 Survey Methods .................................................................................................. 12 3.2.2.2 Results ................................................................................................................ 14 3.2.3 Nocturnal Birds and Bats ........................................................................................... 16 3.2.3.1 Survey Methods .................................................................................................. 16 3.2.3.2 Results ................................................................................................................ 17 3.2.4 Rare and Nocturnal Mammals ................................................................................... 17 3.2.4.1 Survey Methods .................................................................................................. 17 3.2.4.2 Results ................................................................................................................ 17 3.2.5 Amphibians And Reptiles .......................................................................................... 18 3.2.5.1 Survey Methods .................................................................................................. 18 3.2.5.2 Results ................................................................................................................ 18 3.3 Wildlife Habitat Mapping ................................................................................................ 18 3.3.1 Survey Methods ........................................................................................................ 18 3.3.2 Results ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.6 Summary of Sensitive Species Detections .................................................................. 20 3.4 Wildlife MIS Species List .................................................................................................. 20 3.5 Agency Coordination ....................................................................................................... 22 4.0 Vegetation Resources .......................................................................................................... 23 4.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................................. 23 4.1.1 Federally Listed, BLM and USFS Sensitive Plant Species ............................................ 23 4.1.1.1 Federally Listed Plant Species ............................................................................. 23 4.1.1.2 BLM Sensitive Plant Species ................................................................................ 23 4.1.1.3 USFS Sensitive Plant Species ............................................................................... 24 4.1.2 Colorado Natural Heritage Program Data .................................................................. 27 4.1.3 Other Project Specific Data ....................................................................................... 28 4.1.3.1 Seven Star Vegetation Report .............................................................................. 28 4.1.3.2 Roaring Fork Stream Health Initiative .................................................................. 28 Table of Contents (continued) Section / Title Page 4.2 Federally listed and Sensitive Plant Species Surveys ......................................................... 29 4.2.1 Survey Methods ........................................................................................................ 29 4.2.2 Results ...................................................................................................................... 30 4.2.2.1 BLM & USFS Sensitive Plant Species ................................................................... 30 4.2.2.2 State Rare Plants ................................................................................................. 30 4.3 Vegetation Mapping & Descriptions ................................................................................. 32 4.3.1 Survey Methods ........................................................................................................ 32 4.3.2 Results ...................................................................................................................... 32 4.3.2.1 Vegetation Mapping ........................................................................................... 32 4.3.2.2 Vegetation Communities .................................................................................... 33 4.3.2.1 Aspen Forests ..................................................................................................... 35 4.3.2.2 Douglas-Fir Forests ............................................................................................. 36 4.3.2.3 Mountain Shrublands ......................................................................................... 36 4.3.2.4 Sagebrush Shrublands ......................................................................................... 38 4.3.2.5 Western Wheatgrass Grasslands .......................................................................... 39 4.3.2.6 Shale Barrens ...................................................................................................... 39 4.3.2.6 Riparian & Wetland Habitats .............................................................................. 40 4.3.2.7 Agricultural Habitats ........................................................................................... 45 4.4 Noxious Weeds ............................................................................................................... 45 4.4.1 Survey Methods ........................................................................................................ 45 4.4.2 Results ...................................................................................................................... 45 4.5 Floristic Inventory ............................................................................................................ 48 4.5.1 Survey Methods ........................................................................................................ 48 4.5.2 Results ...................................................................................................................... 48 4.6 Quantitative Data Sampling ............................................................................................. 48 4.6.1