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• comparable levels to those areas around the property. Also, none of the areas to be <br />mined is considered to be critical wintering, breeding, calving, fawning or brood <br />rearing habitat. <br />2.7.1.2 Fisheries <br />The Edna Mine area has only a mild effect on the biota of Trout Creek. The <br />presence of setTling.,ponds and a substantial buffer zone of unmined land adjacent to <br />the stream are the primary factors minimizing adverse effects. Oak Creek in the <br />vicinity of, and upstream from the mine, has been adversely effected by considerable <br />channelization from construction of the railroad and by the highway and the periodic <br />input of organic material, apparently originating in the town of Oak Creek. <br />Conclusions <br />The proposed mining and reclamation plans are designed with buffer zones and <br />sedimentation ponds to control runoff. During The life of the mine this will result <br />• in the Trout Creek ecosystem being enhanced over that which presently exists. Oak <br />Creek is not expected to be further affected by the mining or load out activities <br />during the life of the mine. <br />2.7.2 OBSERVATIONS <br />The Edna Mine study area encompasses eight different habitat types that were <br />sampled for vertebrate populations. Of these eight habitats, four were undisturbed; <br />riparian, aspen, mountain shrub and sagebrush, and four were disturbed habitats; <br />reclaimed spoils with planted grass, unreclaimed spoils, cultivated fields and pasture. <br />These eight habitats reflected different patterns of use by vertebrates as dis- <br />tinguished on the basis of the vegetation structure and the plant species present. <br />Riparian - Riparian habitat occurs on The flood plain of Trout Creek <br />adjacent to The mine complex and varies in width from 30 to 200 meters along the <br />length of the valley. This ores is relatively flat and occurs at the lowest elevation <br />of the complex. The dense vegetation reflects the high availability of wafer to <br />plants with Willow (Salix spp.) and Redtop and Sedges (Carex spp.) predominating. <br />• Patches of trees are interspersed with patches of Carex creating a large amount of <br />"edge" between trees and open areas. This "edge" effect promotes the diversity of <br />vertebrate species present. <br />2.7 -3 <br />