Laserfiche WebLink
the transition between a warm and cold water fishery and is rated <br />an A-4 fishing stream by DOW. South Canyon and Alkali creeks are • <br />very small (less than 4 feet wide) intermittent tributaries of 'the <br />Colorado River which are adjacent to the mine permit area. Both <br />are rated by DOW as "NO Fishery" steams having rock and gravel <br />bottoms and extensive overhanging vegetation. Some degradation of <br />Alkali Creek has occurred by construction of small on-stream <br />impoundments to provide stock water and placement of car bodies in <br />the stream as riprap. The series of five ponds on Alkali Creek <br />vary in size from 3 acres to 1/10 acre. These ponds are 3 to 6 <br />feet in depth with silt laden bottoms and abundant aquatic vegeta- <br />tion and algae. South Canyon Creek is degraded by the operation of <br />the Glenwood Springs landfill and drainage from past mining <br />operations. The proposed NCEC project will have no point source <br />discharge into any of these area streams and no impacts are <br />anticipated on water quality or aquatic biota. <br />3.7.2 Mammals • <br />Fifty-seven mammals have been reported from this section of <br />Colorado and are listed with their habitat preferences and relative <br />abundance in Appendix 3.7-1 (Bissell, 1982). As indicated, fifty- <br />four of these species breed in the area. <br />3.7.2.1 Big Game <br />Mule deer is the most abundant species of big game and is the <br />species of highest recreational value in the mine permit area. <br />Data gathered by DOW (1983) classify the mine facilities area as <br />deer summer and winter range. There are severe winter range and <br />critical habitat areas to the west and south of the proposed <br />facilities area, however, these are not anticipated to be affected <br />by the mining operations. <br />On the mine permit area, mule deer utilize the mountain shrub, i <br />NCEC - Coal Ridqe #1 3-78 ABC/1145/900301 <br />