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found increasingly in the established areas of reclamation. In 2006 elk were averaging 2.6 <br />individuals per square mile while mule deer were averaging 1.92 individuals per square mile. <br />Incidental observations by mine personnel and CDRMS inspectors indicate that elk and mule <br />deer are common on reclamation through much of the year. <br />Raptors including red-tailed hawks and golden eagles nest and hunt in the area and other raptors <br />such as northern harriers and Swainson's hawks that prefer more grassland or grass shrubland <br />habitat have been observed in reclaimed areas in past studies and monitoring. The reclaimed <br />areas are trending towards a sagebrush grassland/shrubland habitat and species with an affinity to <br />that habit type are present in these reclaimed areas. Golden eagle nests are located to the <br />northwest of Permit area. Golden eagles have often been observed over the reclaimed areas. The <br />continued presence of these birds and successful breeding activity in the immediate area could in <br />part be contributed by the reclaimed areas which offer good foraging opportunities related to the <br />stature and nature of the herbaceous dominated reclaimed areas and related prey base. <br />Columbian sharp -tailed grouse (CSTG) are of particular interest in Colorado. Monitoring efforts <br />have been attuned to documenting presence and numbers, particularly at lek sites during the <br />breeding season. Monitoring has shown a steady increase in presence of these birds at leks <br />adjacent to the Yoast haul road and north of the main permit area. There are as many as 10 <br />known lek sites in this area. In 2011 or 2012 CSTG activity was noted on the mine site. In 2013 <br />and active lek site was discovered on Yoast reclaimed lands and monitoring was begun at this <br />site. The site is located just north of the most southern block of BRB-1. This lek is referred to as <br />the Yoast tree plot lek. The affinity for reclaimed sites by CSTG is well documented in <br />northwest Colorado and this is consistent with observations at the nearby Seneca II/PSCM mine. <br />CSTG have established up to four active leks on Seneca II/PSCM mine reclaimed lands and <br />these leks are monitored annually. The 2013 counts for these four leks totaled 66 CSTG with the <br />lowest lek count having 14 CSTG and the highest with 23 CSTG. Therefore there is a potential <br />for additional CTSG presence on Yoast reclaimed lands over time due to the large amount of <br />similar and available reclamation habitat and the proximity of active leks and CSTG activity <br />surrounding the mine. Please not that Colorado Parks and Wildlife monitoring is showing an <br />increased upward trend in CSTG numbers and reclaimed lands play a role in this trend. <br />SL -6 - 30 <br />