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Section 779.20 (c) Continued. • the mine progresses several hundred acres of summer habitat as well as habitat used for movement by el:: will be lost until successful revegetation has reestablished itself. Two implications exist concerning this loss of habitat. First, migratory corridors existing within the area will be modified and elk will be forced to move through adjacent areas when migrating from winter to Bummer range. This may cause abnormal concentrations of elk on these adjacent areas with a resulting decrease in the quality of the range and decline in the population. The second implication stemming from the loss of habitat will be the eventual loss of the elk calving grounds within the min? plan area. Orly a small portion of the calving habitat in th_ southwest portion of Section 19 will remain following mining. The effect on the. local elk herd by virtue of lost calving ground is uncertain bur. is not expected to be significant. Pregnant cows will seek other suitable habitat that exists in adjacent areas to bear their young. In such a situation population decline would probably be minimal and temporary. Alternati•~e areas • for elk calving in the area are available (Twentymile Park Wildlife Agency Information (Map 27)). Within the region are current elk calving areas that could possibly absorb displaced animals from the Eckman Park elk calving area. Another feasible possibility is that the existing aspen-sagebrush vegetation in surrounding areas that are not currently being utilized for calving would absorb any animals displaced from the proposed mine plan area without over- crowding or disruption of existing calving areas. The worst possible situation thzt could exist may be that cows would abort their young or otherwise lose them, causing a decline in the population. Such a condition appears highly unlikely as this situation has never been documented to date in this area or similar areas as a conse- quence of post mining activities. The most probable course of events would be that some cows would continue to calve on any portion of historical calving grounds left undisturhed. Such a situation is previously documented. Other • 779-243