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Topography <br /> Changes in topography are expected to have a minor effect on big game animals as <br /> recontouring back to the approximate original contour will substantially mitigate <br /> this effect. Recontouring will be accomplished to provide a variable topography <br /> that will promote diverse habitats for vegetation and wildlife. Mule deer and <br /> elk use topographical features as cover, both from weather and disturbance (Love- <br /> less, 1969). Gulches and ridges are used for escape cover while the lee side of <br /> ridges is used for windbreaks. Until shrubs are well established, topography <br /> will be the principle cover available for big game. Recontouring, combined with <br /> mature shrub transplants, will provide the necessary habitats for establishment <br /> and maintenance of big game range. <br /> As discussed in Section 2.4 of this application, mule deer and elk migration cor- <br /> ridors traverse through the southern edge of the proposed mine plan area along <br /> the ridge of the Williams Fork Mountains. The elk migration corridor ends near <br /> the western edge of the proposed mine plan area (Map M22) . Mining activities <br /> will have little effect on these corridors because they do not cut across or <br /> block the corridor. This allows big game animals to continue to migrate south of <br /> the proposed mine plan area. Recontouring of spoils will reestablish the nor- <br /> thern portion of these corridors and in combination with shrub reestablishment, <br /> will provide the needed cover for use of the migration corridors by big game ani- <br /> mals. <br /> Revegetation <br /> Although off-site treatments will mitigate the effects of mining for a short per- <br /> iod of time, successful revegetation will dictate the final and most permanent <br /> effect of the Trapper Mine on big game animals. The seeding of native species of <br /> value to big game animals, as discussed in Section 3.6, will provide the quality <br /> and quantity of forage needed to meet the nutritional requirements of big game <br /> animals. It is expected that forage production on the revegetated areas will be <br /> equal to or exceed that on undisturbed sites. <br /> 4-156 <br />