2014-11-21_PERMIT FILE - C1996084 (23)

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Rule 1: Pemu(s • Pinyon pine,Utahjuniper,andone-seedjuniperdominatedrymountainescarpmentsandlowmesasand plateaus. Juniper seems limited in the property, but is much more dominant to the north. A sparse understory of grasses and fortis is present. Riparian woodland communities lie adjacent to ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial surface water bodies withintheproperty. Thiscommunityiscomprisedofanoverstoryofnanowleafcottonwood. Nomidstory is present within the property. Herbaceous vegetation is dominated by weedy species. This type occupies approximately 75 acres within the property. Less than one acre of riparian woodland occurs within the proposed disturbance areas. The hay meadowcorrununitytype lies within the floodplains ofthe Purgatoire Riverto the north ofthe mine area. Approximately 296 acres of this habitat type occurs within the permit azea. These meadows aze planted with alfalfa and timothy. Big Game Elk and mule deer occur throughout the property, which includes the permit area. They are year-round residents that utilize all the major habitat types within the permit area. Both species are managed bythe CDOW and both are hunted extensively within the property as well as the surrounding area. • Elk The CDO W has identified the entire property as elk overall range and the southern and western portion ofthe property as elk winter range. Overall range is identified as the area that encompasses all known seasonal activities within the observed range ofan elk population. The CDOW defines winter range as that part of the overall range where 90 percent of the individuals are located during the average five winters out often from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up. Elk within the property are part ofthe Trinchera herd. This herd is second in size only to the White River herd in northern Colorado. To manage big game populations within the Colorado, the CDOW has placed big game herds into Data Analysis Units (DAU). The DAU are furtherdivided into Hunt Units. The Hunt Units are used to manage hunternrunbers within certain areas. The property is contained within DAU 33, and more specifically, Hunt Unit 851. DAU 33 is approximately 3,147 square miles, ofwhich 92 percent is privately owned. The property occupies almost one percent of DAU 33. Within DAU 33, the CDO W estimates 22,773 elk occur, with a bull:cow ratio of 72:100. The 1995 rifle hunter success in the Hunt Unit ranged from 22 to 44 percent. Elk harvest within Hunt Unit 851 has increased from 222 bulls taken in 1975 to 770 bul Is harvested in 1994. In addition, the cow harvest in this • IoranciioPmbPM1Tf(i)5)Iu1y3001 uyE 2.04-5 l (revised 07/25/01) -O ~