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ExHIBIT ~'1 <br />WILDLIFE RESOURCES <br />Rule 3432.5701 E.4 8 <br />(a) <br />This high foothills plateau region of the Rocky Mountains is a sloping sandstone bench dissected by small <br />intermittent drainages, which forms a large elevated bench. The juniper-pinion and ponderosa pine forest <br />dominate the drainages, but the majority of the bench azea is open highland meadow. Elk and mule deer aze <br />the predominant mammals, with itinerant incursions of black bear, mountain lion, lynx, bob cat, golden & <br />bald eagle, and red-tail hawk. Other inhabitants are squirrels, porcupine, skunk, cottontail & jackrabbit, <br />coyote, red fox, an assortment of song birds, raven, crow, and magpie. <br />ro~ <br />The isolated nature of the neighborhood and lack of human habitation makes this rangeland azea suitable <br />for use of wildlife, when combined with the better cover of the neazby wooded canyons and gorges, <br />particulazly for winter range of the aforementioned mule deer and elk populations. We feel that the <br />intermittent mining of sandstone products from the azea is a minor, off-season, and temporary interruption <br />of that use, and that the vegetation and other enhancements of reclamation of the disturbed areas ultimately <br />benefit the wildlife habitat. An attempt will be made to include black sage, fourwing saltbush, and possibly <br />antelope bitterbrush in the re-vegetation restoration effort. <br />'Wildlife such as elk, mule deer, coyotes, rabbits and raptors utilize this <br />unit [Soil Unit No. 65, Narraguinnep-Dapoincomplea]. Management for wildlife should include <br />protection from overgrazing by livestock, prevention of fire, and maintaining <br />adequate plant cover. Native vegetation and nearby wooded areas provide food <br />and cover. <br />The suitability for all wildlife is very poor. This unit [No. 11, "Badland^] <br />provides very limited habitat for mule deer, rabbits, rodents and raptors. <br />t=~ <br />No threatened or endangered species aze known to inhabit the site. <br />If trout inhabit Plateau Creek at all, which is doubtful due to the constant turbidity in the stream, there will <br />be no affect to the stream from the proposed operations, since site runoff outfall will be prevented. <br />im <br />District Wildlife Manager Zack Holder and Habitat Manager Dave Harper of the Cortez CO District of the <br />Colorado Wildlife Division were consulted for this wildlife evaluation <br />END] <br />' Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey, USDA <br />_ y1 _ <br />Orr0112 Appl PERKINS SANDSTONE <br />