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2016-12-23_PERMIT FILE - C1982056A (8)
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2016-12-23_PERMIT FILE - C1982056A (8)
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Last modified
3/21/2017 9:27:01 AM
Creation date
2/13/2017 7:47:30 AM
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Template:
DRMS Permit Index
Permit No
C1982056A
IBM Index Class Name
Permit File
Doc Date
12/23/2016
Section_Exhibit Name
2.04 Environmental Resources
Media Type
D
Archive
Yes
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WILDLIFE BASELINE CHARACTERIZATION <br />• Wildlife Habitat Characteristics of the Permit Area <br />Historically, the lower portions of Twentymile Park were dominated by a low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula) <br />community much of which has been converted to cropland. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and mountain <br />shrub communities occur at somewhat higher elevations in Twentymile Park, primarily along the peripheral foothill <br />portions. The even higher elevations and steep north - facing slopes surrounding the park are dominated by aspen, <br />mountain shrub and occasionally spruce -fir communities. <br />Within the proposed permit area, wildlife terrestrial habitat is correlated to eight plant communities, consisting of <br />aspen, sagebrush, sagebrush/meadow, mountain shrub, meadow, cropland, reclaimed pastureland, and pastureland. <br />Aquatic habitat occurs primarily along Fish Creek, Foidel Creek, intermittent drainages and at small stockponds. <br />Sagebrush, sagebrush /meadow, reclaimed pastureland, and cropland are the only habitats that will be disturbed by <br />development of the proposed mine facilities. A maximum of only 7.5 acres of sagebrush and 0.5 acres of <br />sagebrush/meadow will be disturbed. The remaining disturbance will be within reclaimed pastureland and <br />cropland. The vegetation communities existing within and adjacent to the proposed permit boundaries are <br />indicative of the wildlife species utilizing the area. A discussion of the plant communities and corresponding <br />habitat types occurring within the Twentymile Park permit area is provided below. <br />Sagebrush - Physiographically, sagebrush occurs primarily on non - cultivated land between meadow (lower <br />elevations) and mountain shrub (higher elevations) vegetation types. Sagebrush communities are either dominated <br />by big sagebrush or low sagebrush. Big bluegrass (Poa ampla), slender wheatgrass (Agrop ron trachymulum), <br />mulesears wyethia ()Y ey thia amplexicaulis), western yarrow (Achillea millifolium), and lupine (Lu inus spp.) are <br />predominant understory species. Sagebrush habitat covers approximately 2,253 acres of the permit area and <br />accounts for 17 percent of the total surface acreage within the permit area. <br />• Mule deer rely on sagebrush habitat throughout the year, but heaviest use occurs during the winter months when <br />sagebrush (in areas not covered by snow) is an important winter browse species for mule deer. Sagebrush habitat <br />on south - facing slopes, wind -swept ridges, and other areas exhibiting reduced snow cover are especially important <br />to mule deer during the winter months. The presence of mule deer winter range in the permit area is discussed in <br />greater detail in a subsequent section. <br />Many predators such as coyote, badger, long- tailed weasel, golden eagle, red - tailed hawk, prairie falcon, and prairie <br />rattlesnake utilize sagebrush habitat. Several species of songbirds are considered obligates of (i.e., almost entirely <br />dependent on) sagebrush habitat. Obligate species include sage thrasher and Brewer's sparrow. Vesper sparrow, <br />mourning dove, and western meadowlark are also common in sagebrush habitat. <br />Sage grouse are likely, to occur throughout the sagebrush habitat and are almost totally dependent on sagebrush <br />habitat (Braun et al. :1977). While open areas in low sagebrush may be used for strutting grounds, nests are <br />constructed on the ground beneath sagebrush and most sage grouse foraging occurs in sagebrush habitat. Two <br />sage grouse strutting grounds are located on or near the permit area. These grounds and the importance of permit <br />area sagebrush habitat to sage grouse are discussed in greater detail in a subsequent section. <br />Sagebrush/meadow and Meadow - Sagebrush/meadow habitat is associated primarily with the bottomland along <br />Fish Creek. It occurs on 471 acres and accounts for only 3.6 percent of the permit area. Silver sagebrush <br />(Artemisia cana) is the dominant overstory species, while grasses, sedges, and rush dominate the understory. <br />Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Baltic rush (Juncus balticus), and cliff sedge (Carex sco uln orum) are common <br />understory species. <br />Meadow habitat is very limited in areal extent (occupying 361 acres) and occurs as isolated narrow bands along <br />•intermittent drainages in the permit area. It accounts for only 2.8 percent of the permit area. Vegetation species <br />present in this habitat are similar to those occurring in sagebrush/meadow except the shrub component (primarily <br />silver sagebrush) is absent. In many areas meadow and sagebrush meadow have been heavily grazed by livestock. <br />Thistle (Cirsium spp.) is a common invader species in these areas. <br />RN08 -05 2.04 -71 03/12/10 <br />
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