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3.1. Rangelands. <br />The post -mining land uses of rangeland and wildlife habitat have unquestionably been achieved. As <br />documented in Section 2.0 of this report, an erosionally stable and biologically diverse cover of plant <br />species and life forms (grasses, forbs and woody plants) sustainably supports an impressive assortment <br />and quantity of wildlife on the Trapper rangelands proposed herein for final bond release. <br />Recent aerial big game surveys conducted by John Monarch of Monarch & Associates demonstrate that <br />while mule deer numbers have remained stable since mining began in the mid -1970's, elk numbers have <br />increased by an order of magnitude and pronghorn numbers have increased form zero to hundreds. <br />Reclaimed lands proposed herein for final bond release are subjected to grazing by big game animals, in <br />at least the hundreds during the summer months to thousands during the late fall through early spring <br />months. This degree of intense grazing has proven to be sustainable with no significant detrimental effect <br />on reclaimed rangelands. <br />In addition, recent Colorado Parks and Wildlife studies and in house monitoring demonstrate that <br />Columbian sharp -tailed grouse are utilizing reclaimed rangelands for nesting and brood rearing to a much <br />higher degree than adjacent native and CRP lands. CRP research also indicates that reclaimed <br />rangelands at Trapper provide better quality habitat for sharptails than adjacent native or CRP lands. <br />Other wildlife species utilizing Trapper's reclaimed rangelands include coyotes and other mammalian <br />predators, raptors, a variety of small birds and mammals, and waterfowl. <br />4.0 Potential Hydrologic Impact <br />Monthly field inspections by DRMS and Trapper personnel since reclamation activities began demonstrate <br />that the reclamation proposed for bond release is hydrologically and erosionally stable. The recontoured <br />landscape, that includes properly designed reconstructed drainages, is well vegetated and the hydrologic <br />system is functioning as designed. <br />Potential off-site surface and groundwater impacts from mining in the area proposed for bond release with <br />this application are discussed below. A more detailed discussion of potential mine -wide impacts is found <br />in Section 4.8.3 (Probable Hydrologic Consequences) of the Trapper permit document (C-81-010). <br />Historical hydrology monitoring data can be found in Appendix W (annual report documents) of permit <br />document C-1981-010. <br />on <br />