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Transit Mix Concrete Co.
<br /> mixes and tree species in this plan were chosen specifically to encourage and improve wildlife
<br /> habitat, even from pre-existing conditions, particularly elk and Merriam's wild turkey. The
<br /> nutrient values of plant species vary by season.
<br /> For elk, shrubs provide winter nutrition, and forbs and grasses are desirable in the spring and
<br /> early summer (Brown & Hallwell, 1984). The NRCS's leaflet on elk habitat management (1999)
<br /> states that elk prefer grass, but regularly feed on willow, mountain mahogany, sagebrush, and
<br /> other shrub and browse species during winter months and that "elk seek to consume a mixture
<br /> of grasses, forbs and shrubs in winter to ensure proper intake of nitrogen." Innes further
<br /> documented, "In winter, forage availability and elk diet change with snow depth and hardness.
<br /> When snow is shallow, elk paw through it to reach understory vegetation but also browse
<br /> shrubs, conifers, and lichens that protrude from the snow. Species or genera identified as the
<br /> `best documented' highly valuable forage species in at least one season included pale agoseris
<br /> (Agoseris glauca), wheatgrass (Agropyron spp.), Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier
<br /> alnifolia), sedge, ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.), fescue (Festuca spp.), geranium (Geraniumspp.),
<br /> lupine (Lupinus spp.), bluegrass, aspen and cottonwood (Populus spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.),
<br /> antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), and willow" (Innes
<br /> 2011). As detailed above, several of these species indigenous to the project area were
<br /> incorporated into the revegetation plan to provide valuable forage for the elk.
<br /> Wildlife species such as mule deer, elk, and black bear will likely benefit from revegetation on
<br /> the benches in the first several decades following reclamation, because of the early
<br /> successional stage vegetation which will provide high-quality forage. As stated NRCS's 1999
<br /> American Elk habitat management leaflet, "Ideal interspersion of elk habitat consists of early,
<br /> mid-, and late successional forested land." The reclaimed area will provide the necessary early
<br /> successional forested lands, which is currently absent (as discussed by Grigg, 2012), while
<br /> surrounding areas can provide mid and late successional areas.
<br /> Highwall benches will be passable, and the benches will be tied into the existing slope at each
<br /> end of the bench so animals will be able to move on and off of benches. In addition, a haul road
<br /> ramp utilized during mining will be left in place so that big game can utilize it to traverse up and
<br /> down the highwall. This will significantly protect against potential impacts to regional big game
<br /> migration patterns, and reduce any significant fragmentation of habitat or loss of landscape
<br /> connectivity for any species.
<br /> The highwall slopes that remain after reclamation will not be vegetated. The area of highwall
<br /> slopes will roughly equal the area of highwall slopes as listed in Table E-1, so about 14 acres of
<br /> currently vegetated land, mainly mixed conifer forest, will be converted to steep rock slope. This
<br /> will result in the permanent loss of small areas of forested habitat for big game, small mammals,
<br /> and forest birds; however, the relatively small amount of area affected would not likely
<br /> measurably affect regional populations of any wildlife species. New habitat will be created for
<br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Permit Application
<br /> March 9,2018 E-23
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