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<br />, <br /> <br />V egetati anal Land.Use Vegetation Type Growl'h, Reproduction, Vegetation Endangered <br />Issue Change Change Species Composition P rodu cti vi ty Species <br />Agency of Change <br />More Water I I 2 I <br />Snow Duration 2 I <br />Air and Soil <br />Temperature 2 <br />Silver I <br />Level of Concern I I 2.3 2 2 <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. LOW.ELEVATlON, OFF.SITE <br /> <br />Figure 4.-Vegational issues at low elevations and offsite. <br /> <br />--,1 <br /> <br />direct effects of rain and snow; through indirect effects on vegetation, aniInal/animal <br />interactions, and socioeconomic parameters; and through seeding agents. Considering each key <br />species as an issue, criteria bearing on its importance were considered to be the agencies of <br />change, the likely magnitude of change in terms of species biomass, the importance of a change in <br />terms of "who cares," its validity as an issue (valid if concern is based on large changes, invalid if <br />based on trivial ones), and answerability-whether the changes are expected to be observable, <br />measurable, and relatable to precipitation management. The result was an effects web and a <br />sensitivity matrix as shown in abridged form on figures 5 and 6, respectively. <br />Issue species accorded low priority or none at all included white-tailed deer, prairie dogs, <br />blackfooted ferrets, ducks, geese, swans, sharp tailed grouse, pheasant, quail, rare and threatened <br />species (of which 12 were named as considered), and invertebrate pests. <br />High-priority species.-Pronghorns are found only in North America. Initially abundant, they <br />became nearly extinct at the turn of the century and have been brought back by careful <br />management. They are adversely affected by encroachment of civilization and would be affected <br />by development of more land. <br />Elk and mule deer migra:te to winter range when the snow depth at high elevations increases. <br />Early migration may result in increased use of winter browse and ultimate deterioration of <br />critical winter range, which would be aggravated if snowpack augmentation should extend to <br />lower elevations where the winter range itself lies. It is important to determine if augmented <br />snowfall does extend to lower elevations, and restrictions of early season operations should be <br />considered. <br />High priority was acco~d to effects on animals in streamside habitats, not because. of <br />expected changes in the waterflow but because of the expected impact of more people, <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />9 <br />