Laserfiche WebLink
RULE 2 PERMITS <br /> <br />South Taylor – Rule 2, Page 45 Revision Date: 7/21/25 <br /> Revision No.: MR-267 <br /> <br />These habitats are similar to those outside of the South Taylor disturbed areas except for the reclaimed <br />habitats of the previously-approved mining area. <br /> <br />Big Game <br /> <br />Elk - Elk within the general project area are part of the White River herd as defined by the CCPW, which <br />was estimated to include a total herd population of 28,620 animals in 1996, and represents the largest elk <br />herd in Colorado (CCPW 1997). Within the White River herd the CCPW estimated an average <br />cow:calf:bull ratio of 100:47.7:13.1 during the surveys completed from 1994 to 1995, this is somewhat <br />lower than the 100:52.3:25.8 ratio average identified during the survey completed by Monarch & <br />Associates (Monarch and Associates, 1998). <br /> <br />Elk utilize all habitat types within the previously approved permit area during various times of the year, <br />and several elk ranges have been identified as shown on Map 13B Sheet 1 and are described below. <br /> <br />• Winter range <br /> <br />• Calving and summer areas <br /> <br />• Late fall and early spring areas <br /> <br />Winter ranges are typically occupied from December through April. Within the general project area, <br />winter aerial surveys of elk from 1994 through 1997 found that elk populations varied greatly. <br />Populations varied from a high of 1,590 and a low of 259. This represents 5.5 and 0.9 percent of the total <br />White River herd. This variation is based on both snow depths and temperature. In general, most <br />observations of elk during the winter were made within the mountain shrub habitat type in the previously <br />approved permit area. <br /> <br />Elk calving and summering areas are typically occupied from May through September and occur within <br />the upper ends of drainages within the mountain shrub and aspen habitat types within both the previously <br />approved and South Taylor permit revision areas. During the period of 1994 through 1997 the calf:cow <br />ratio averaged 58:100 in these areas (Monarch and Associates, 1997). <br /> <br />Calving and summering areas are the predominant elk habitat in the vicinity of the South Taylor permit <br />area (Monarch and Associates, 1998), which provides cover, forage, and water during the April to July <br />period until early snows cause them to move down country to wintering ranges. As indicated by Jon <br />Wangnild, the CPW District Wildlife Manager for the Meeker North Area, mining activities in the South <br />Taylor permit revision area will not be a migratory limiting factor nor will it limit habitat due to the <br />relative small area of impact and the abundance of suitable habitat in surrounding areas. <br /> <br />Mule Deer - Like elk, mule deer within the general project area utilize all habitat types and are part of the <br />White River herd. The buck:doe ratio of the White River herd in 1997 was 11:100. This is somewhat <br />higher than the 8.5:100 ratio noted in the general project area from 1994 through 1997. <br /> <br />Four types of mule deer range occur within the previously approved and the South Taylor permit areas, as <br />described below. Locations of the high use wintering areas and late fall to early spring areas are shown <br />on Map 13B Sheet 2. <br /> <br />• Spring/summer range