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Section 779.20 (c) Continued. • co:rs wculd move to suitable habitat on adjacent areas. After successful revegetation many or all pregnant cows would return to their historical calving grounds provided they had been restored in accordance with their needs. Mule Deer. Impacts to the mule deer population would be similar to those identified for elk. The primary differences being that mule deer are affected less by human activity; there are fewer of them on site; the study area is peedominantly their summer range which is usually not in short supply and their fawning habitat (ravines, etc.), unlike the elk calving habitat, shculd remain relatively unaffected by the progression of the mine. Black Bear. Black bear are relatively seclusive animals and occur on the study are only as occasional transients. Suitable habitat exists on adjacent areas and therefore any bears existing near the study area will simply avoid the area and activity during the life • of the mine. Impacts to the population would be relatively insig- nificant. After mining, increased hunting pressure may occur due to ease of access, however this would be difficult to measure. Beaver. Some beaver habitat (ponds and lodges in drainages adjacent to aspen stands) within the mine plan area (southeast corner of Section 13) will be affected by direct removal, and the potential also exists for indirect habitat degradation. Construction of haul or access roads across or adjacent to drainages may increase steam sediment loads particularly during periods of high runoff. Sedi- ments and/or other materials may also be discharged into mine plan area drainages from the mined area and/or spoil piles if onsite runoff control measures fail. Since beaver rely heavily on aspen stands for food and dam construction material; removal of aspen habitat in the vicinity of file drainages may also adversely affect bea~~er populations. • 779-244