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Climate <br /> The climate of the region has the characteristics of a continental highland region: low <br /> precipitation, large fluctuations in diurnal temperatures, low humidity, moderate wind, and high <br /> levels of exposure to sunlight. Annual precipitation is historically between 16 and 19 inches <br /> based on records from the adjacent Seneca II-W Mine. <br /> Vegetation_ <br /> Vegetation in the permit area is predominantly sagebrush grassland, mountain brush, and <br /> reclaimed mine lands. The disturbance area of the PSCM contains reclaimed lands, and <br /> previously undisturbed sagebrush/grassland vegetation. <br /> Land Use <br /> Rangeland (sheep and cattle grazing) is the dominant land use in the permit area and adjacent <br /> area. Other land uses are: cropland (hay fields), wildlife habitat, industrial/commercial (mining, <br /> oil wells, electric transmission lines), developed water resources (reservoirs), recreation (hunting <br /> and wildlife viewing) and residential. The approved post-mining land uses for the PSCM are <br /> rangeland, wildlife habitat, and recreational use. <br /> Wildlife <br /> The PSCM permit area and adjacent area provide habitat for the following types of wildlife: big <br /> game, small mammals, upland game birds, raptors, breeding birds (song birds), amphibians, <br /> reptiles, and fish. Fish habitat is in the Yampa River. The following vegetation communities <br /> provide habitat for birds and mammals: grasslands, sagebrush shrub lands, mountain brush, and <br /> isolated pockets of aspen and coniferous forest. Potential raptor nesting habitat is provided by <br /> cliffs and rock outcrops and scattered box elder and cottonwood trees. Habitat for all types of <br /> wildlife is provided in mesic bottomlands and riparian areas that occur along larger drainages, <br /> and by wetland vegetation that occurs around ponds and impoundments. <br /> The PSCM permit area boundary is coincident with the reclaimed Yoast Mine (C 1994082) and <br /> will incorporated a portion of the reclaimed and now terminated Seneca II Mine (C1980005). <br /> Annual wildlife monitoring was conducted for the two reclaimed mines from 1994 to 2007. <br /> Wildlife baseline studies were conducted for PSCM in 2008. Details of the wildlife studies are <br /> in Exhibit 2.04.11 E1 of the permit application. Wildlife observed during the monitoring and <br /> baseline studies included big game, upland game birds, raptors, breeding birds (song birds), and <br /> small mammals. The 2008 baseline survey found 62 bird species, 11 mammal species, and one <br /> amphibian species (boreal chorus frog). Bird species diversity was highest in the mountain brush <br /> habitat(22 species) and grassland habitat(21 species). The most abundant bird species was the <br /> cliff swallow which tended to occur in large flocks and nesting colonies. <br /> Tables 2.04.11-T6,permit section 2.04.11, and section 2.05.6 have been updated to reflect <br /> changes to species of concern. <br /> 7 <br />