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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 6 <br />recession and large volume. The peak occurs in May or June, while base flow is in late fall or <br />winter. <br /> <br />All surface disturbances, coal preparation structures and adits are in the North Thompson Creek <br />drainage. The underground workings for the No. 3 Mine are entirely within the North Thompson <br />Creek drainage. The adit for the No. 1 Mine is in the North Thompson Creek drainage, but the <br />underground workings extend into the Middle Thompson Creek drainage. There are some old <br />mine workings in the Middle Thompson Creek drainage, but there will be no new disturbances. <br /> <br />Climate- <br /> <br />Annual precipitation at the mine is approximately 22 inches, with upland areas receiving up to 35 <br />inches. Approximately 65 percent of the annual precipitation occurs as snowfall. <br /> <br />Vegetation- <br /> <br />The mine permit area is characterized by five vegetation types: riparian woodland, mountain <br />shrub land - dry and moist phase, aspen forest, and spruce-fir forest. Riparian woodland is <br />prevalent along the Thompson Creek stream banks and its tributaries adjacent to the mine area. <br /> <br />Soils- <br /> <br />Topsoil in the Thompson Creek drainage is limited. Only a thin veneer of topsoil exists on the <br />steep sides lopes of the ridges. Furthermore, much of the topsoil at the mine facility area was <br />lost through historic mining disturbances <br /> <br />Wildlife- <br /> <br />The predominant types of wildlife inhabiting the mine site are elk, deer, coyote, grouse, beaver, <br />and rainbow and cutthroat trout. Mountain lion, bobcat, and turkey are also found in the area. <br /> <br />Approximately 200 elk inhabit Stony Ridge, while only about 50 elk inhabit Marion Ridge. <br />They migrate into Stony Ridge during the winter. Deer locate primarily on the lower grassland <br />during the winter, later moving to a summer range above the mine. <br /> <br />Approximately ten beaver dams were identified in a quarter-mile area immediately downstream <br />from the mine when the mine was initially permitted. Grouse are found on Stony Ridge and on <br />other north-facing slopes. <br /> <br />Rainbow and cutthroat trout are abundant and reproduce downstream from the mine, while <br />rainbow trout live upstream as well. <br /> <br />No endangered species are known to be present in the mining area, nor is there any critical <br />wildlife habitat or high value habitat. <br /> <br />