Data Collection Report - Flood Control District of Maricopa County

upper and lower Salt and Verde rivers, Roosevelt Lake,the Colorado River, and lakes and reservoirs along theMogollon Rim and in the White Mountains (AGFD1997d).Residence: Occurs in Arizona primarily as a migrant and winterresident, but known nesting sites exist along the Salt,Verde, Gila, Bill Williams, Agua Fria, and San Pedrorivers (FWS 1998).Assessment: Bald eagle is unlikely to occur in the project area, whichdoes not contain suitable habitat.Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida)Status: Listed threatened without designated critical habitat.Habitat: Mature and old growth montane forest and woodland,and steep, shady, wooded canyons from 4,500 to 10,000feet elevation. Populations do not occur in the arid,southwestern portion of Arizona (FWS 1998, AGFD1998c).Diet: Chiefly wood rats, but birds, rabbits, and insects are alsoeaten (AGFD 1998c).Range: Wide but patchy distribution in montane foreststhroughout Arizona, except the southwestern portion ofthe state (FWS 1998, AGFD 1998c).Residence: Permanent.Assessment: Mexican spotted owl is extremely unlikely to occur in theDurango drainage area, which at approximately 1,000feet elevation, does not contain montane forests and isfar below the altitudinal range of this owl.Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum)Status: Listed endangered with critical habitat designated inMaricopa County along Saguaro and Canyon lakes.Habitat: Sonoran desertscrub and semidesert grasslandcommunities, sometimes within riparian zones, and nestsin saguaro cavities (FWS 1998). Larger native trees alsoappear to be an important habitat component, especiallymature mesquite bosques that are adjacent to broadleafriparian woodlands or saguaro stands at elevations from1,300 to 4,000 feet (AGFD 1998d).Diet: Lizards, invertebrates, and small birds and mammals(AGFD 1998d).Range: South-central Arizona, chiefly from the TortolitaMountains south and southeast into Mexico, along theSan Pedro River near Dudleyville, and along the Gila andSan Francisco rivers in eastern Arizona in Graham andGreenlee counties (AGFD 1998d).Residence: Permanent.Assessment: Cactus ferruginous pygmy owl may inhabit the projectarea, most likely in riparian woodland and xeroripariancommunities, including mesquite bosques. Surveys arerecommended in areas containing suitable habitat southof Broadway Road and west of 83 rd Avenue to determinepresence or absence prior to development activitieswithin such communities.Yuma Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris yumaensis)Status: Listed endangered without critical habitat.Habitat: Appears to prefer habitats with wet substrates and densevegetation greater than 15 inches tall (FWS 1998),including cattail, bulrush, common reed, and tamarisk(AGFD 1997a).Diet: Crustaceans, insects, frogs, small fish, bird eggs, andplant seeds (AGFD 1997a).Range: Occurs along the Colorado River from Topock Marshsouth into Mexico, along the Bill Williams Riverdrainage, the Gila and Salt rivers upstream to the VerdeRiver confluence (FWS 1998), the Gila River to theColorado River confluence, and Picacho Reservoir(AGFD 1997a).Residence: Approximately 70% of Arizona’s breeding population ispermanent, and the remainder migrates to winteringgrounds along the lower Colorado River (AGFD 1997a).Assessment: Yuma clapper rail may occur regularly in wetland andmarsh communities within the project area. Surveys arerecommended to determine presence or absence prior todevelopment activities within such communities.Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)Status: Listed endangered with critical habitat designated inMaricopa County at Horseshoe Lake.Habitat: Riparian vegetation along streams, rivers, or otherwetlands (Johnson, Haight and Simpson 1987). Pure andmixed stands native and exotic riparian shrubs or treesincluding willow, cottonwood, box elder, ash, tamarisk(Arizona Partners in Flight 1996), and Russian olive atelevations from 90 to 8,240 feet (AGFD 1997e).Diet: Chiefly insects, and occasionally berries and seeds(AGFD 1997e).DIBBLE & ASSOCIATES 40 DURANGO ADMPDATA COLLECTION REPORT