2018-08-30_PERMIT FILE - C1982057 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 8/30/2018
• Section_Exhibit Name: TAB 11 WILDLIFE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• Introduction
The Seneca II -W mine is located approximately 7 miles south of Hayden, Colorado along
County Road 53. It encompasses approximately 2,462 acres in Township 5 North, Range 88
West. The general location of this permit area is depicted on Figure 11-1. The haul road
running from County Road 53 to the Hayden generating station is located approximately five
miles north-northeast of the Seneca II -W permit area and two miles southeast of Hayden,
Colorado. The location of this haul road is shown on Exhibit 11-1.
Both the Seneca II -W permit area and the area of the haul road are situated within or near
the Williams Fork Mountains of northwestern Colorado. The topography within this area
consists of gentle to moderate slopes cut by steep ravines. Wildlife habitat existing on
the Seneca II -W permit area include sagebrush, mixed brush, aspen, steep slope mixed
brush, western wheatgrass/alkali sagebrush, and mesic drainages. The locations of these
communities are described in Tab 10, Vegetation. Other special wildlife habitats found
within the vicinity of the Seneca II -W permit area include surface water areas (stock
reservoirs and beaver ponds) and sandstone bluffs.
A brief description of each major wildlife habitat or vegetation community follows.
Sagebrush. Approximately 923 acres of sagebrush habitat can be found on the Seneca II -W
permit area. This habitat type occurs on nearly all aspects and slopes and on the study
area. It also occurs in the drier drainages and on ridgetops with deeper soils. The
community is dominated by big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and snowberry
(Symphoricarpos oreophilus). A picture of this habitat type taken on May 27, 1982 is
presented as Figure 11-2.
Mixed Brush. This habitat type was dominated by many shrub species important to wildlife
for cover and food. Predominate vegetation species included big sagebrush, snowberry,
chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Cambel oak (Quercus gambelii), and serviceberry
(Amelanchier alnifolia). The type is found on shallow to moderately deep sites derived
from sandstone and tends to dominate on north and east -facing aspects. Approximately
905.1 acres of this habitat type exists on the Seneca II -W permit area. Figure 11-3 shows
a typical mixed brush community.
Aspen. Scattered quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands occur on the Seneca II -W
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