Mouse may jump onto endangered list
A small critter could have a big impact on some local streams.

Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse as endangered, thus ensuring critical habitat protection for the small, water-loving rodent.

The semi-aquatic Zapus hudsonius luteus, a subspecies of the meadow jumping mouse family, is found along riparian areas from Southwest Colorado to the Rio Grande Valley in central New Mexico and the White Mountains, in eastern Arizona. Locally, they are found along the Florida River and Sambrito Creek, in southern La Plata County.

Although it is hard to gauge exact numbers of the mice, which hibernate as much as nine months out of the year, it is estimated that over the last 30 years, populations have dwindled by 70 to 80 percent. As of 2005, there were 29 documented remaining populations spread across eight conservation areas (two in La Plata County, 15 in New Mexico, and 12 in Arizona) according to Fish and Wildlife.

The main culprits in the mouse's decline include development, drought, grazing, off-road vehicle use and wildfire. It is estimated that since 2005, water shortages and post-fire flooding have taken an even bigger toll on the mouse. The removal of beaver, whose dams create ideal wetland habitat for the mice, throughout the Southwest has also taken a toll.

According to Fish and Wildlife's proposal, printed in the Federal Register on July 20, the jumping mouse was found to have "an overall low probability of persistence and a high probability of extinction in the near term (between now and the next 10 years) and a decreasing viability in the long-term future (beyond 10 years)."

Jumping mice typically make their homes in the tall, dense grass surrounding perennial streams, ditches and canals. They are especially vulnerable to changes in habitat since they must breed, raise young and store up fat reserves for the winter all within three or four months in the summer. Thus, if resources are not available in a season, their chances for survival are greatly diminished, according to the Fish and Wildlife report.

Public comments on the proposed endangered species listing of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse can be made until Aug. 19. To comment, go to www.regulations.gov, search box type FWS-R2-2013-0023 and click on “Comment Now” or mail comments to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R2-2013-0023; Division of Policy and Directives Management; US Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM: Arlington, VA 22203.

For more information, see the Federal Register notices and Draft Species Status Assessment Report at  www.fws.gov/southwest/es/NewMexico/ or email Eric Hein, of the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, at eric_hein@fws.gov

County lifts Stage 1 fire restrictions
It is now OK to burn in La Plata County. On Tuesday, county officials lifted all fire restrictions, which applied to all private lands in the unincorporated areas of the county, excluding private lands in the towns of Bayfield, Ignacio, Durango. Stage I fire restrictions were originally enacted on June 19 and upgraded to Stage 2 in mid-July in response to extremely dry conditions and several large wildfires burning throughout the area.

However, recent rains and cooler conditions have put a damper on fire risk.

Although the fire restrictions have been lifted, residents must still obtain a permit from their local fire department when planning to burn. Also, immediately prior to any burn, residents should call Dispatch at 385-2900 (or 563-4401 for residents near Ignacio) to notify authorities.

Burn permits are not required for agricultural burns. There is also no permit required for outdoor "recreation fires" with a total area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height. However, these types of fired do have a required 25-foot setback from structures.

Although the fire restrictions have been lifted, county officials still urge residents to exercise caution when burning.

BLM OKs nearby potash exploration
A potash mine may be coming to the Paradox Valley.

The Bureau of Land Management's Tres Rios Field Office recently gave the go-ahead to Denver-based Red Metal (RM)  Potash to drill several exploratory wells between the town of Egnar and Slickrock, between the Dolores River Canyon and the Utah stateline. The finding of "no significant impact" on RM Potash's environmental assessment came just as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was mulling endangered special status for the Gunnison sage grouse, which inhabits the area.

The approval allows for the drilling of five exploratory wells totaling 14.7 acres across a 10,000-acre area as well as the upgrade and widening of three access roads. Each well will be approximately 250-square feet and bore 6,500 feet into the earth in search of potash, which is the common name for potassium. One of three key ingredients in fertilizer, potash is also used in soaps, perfumes, water softeners, ceramics, pharmaceuticals and a host of other products.

The results of exploration will help to determine if there is a potential for future potash extraction and development. If RM Potash decides to pursue mining operations, additional environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act would be required.

However, the Gunnison sage grouse could put a crimp in those plans. On July 18, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service placed a six-month extension on the deadline for determining the grouse's endangered status. If the threatened bird is listed as endangered next winter, RM Potash may have to relocate wells within critical grouse habitat or mitigate any impacts of exploration or mining.

Although any mine would be years off, RM touts that it would utilize the more eco-friendly in-situ process, rather than strip mining, as is seen at the Cane Creek potash mine near Moab. In this method, wells are pumped with a brine solution that dissolves the potash. The solution is then pumped back to the surface where the potash would be separated using natural gas broilers. Pumping water would come from a salt-water aquifer that lies deep beneath the area.

The end product would be shipped via rail to Grand Junction.

Currently, potash sells for $400 to $450/ton in the United States, although most is imported.

As for the Gunnison sage grouse, known for the male's unique puffed-up mating dance, its population is now estimated at around 4,500 and deflating.

– Missy Votel