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Review of annual monitoring reports shows that mule deer and elk numbers have had a steady <br /> increase over the 1994 through 2007 period. This has been in part due to improved survey methods <br /> later in the period. In the latter part of the monitoring years elk and mule deer were found <br /> increasingly in the established areas of reclamation. In 2006 elk were averaging 2.6 individuals <br /> per square mile while mule deer were averaging 1.92 individuals per square mile. Incidental <br /> observations by mine personnel and CDRMS inspectors indicate that elk and mule deer are <br /> common on reclamation through much of the year. <br /> Raptors including red-tailed hawks and golden eagles nest and hunt in the area and other raptors <br /> such as northern harriers and Swainson's hawks that prefer more grassland or grass shrubland <br /> habitat have been observed in reclaimed areas in past studies and monitoring. The reclaimed areas <br /> are trending towards a sagebrush grass land/shrubland habitat and species with an affinity to that <br /> habit type are present in these reclaimed areas. Golden eagle nests are located to the northwest of <br /> Permit area. Golden eagles have often been observed over the reclaimed areas. The continued <br /> presence of these birds and successful breeding activity in the immediate area could in part be <br /> contributed by the reclaimed areas which offer good foraging opportunities related to the stature <br /> and nature of the herbaceous dominated reclaimed areas and related prey base. <br /> Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (CSTG) are of particular interest in Colorado. Monitoring efforts <br /> have been attuned to documenting presence and numbers, particularly at lek sites during the <br /> breeding season. Monitoring has shown a steady increase in presence of these birds at leks <br /> adjacent to the Yoast haul road and north of the main permit area. There are as many as 10 known <br /> lek sites in this area. In 2011 or 2012 CSTG activity was noted on the mine site. In 2013 and active <br /> lek site was discovered on Yoast reclaimed lands and monitoring was begun at this site. The site <br /> is located just north of the most southern block of BRB-1. This lek is referred to as the Yoast tree <br /> plot lek. The affinity for reclaimed sites by CSTG is well documented in northwest Colorado and <br /> this is consistent with observations at the nearby Seneca IUPSCM mine. CSTG have established <br /> up to four active leks on Seneca IUPSCM mine reclaimed lands and these leks are monitored <br /> annually. The 2013 counts for these four leks totaled 66 CSTG with the lowest lek count having <br /> 14 CSTG and the highest with 23 CSTG. Therefore there is a potential for additional CTSG <br /> presence on Yoast reclaimed lands over time due to the large amount of similar and available <br /> SL-7 - 28 <br />