Laserfiche WebLink
determined that the value of forage plants available to deer and elk is an important <br />consideration in addition to structural characteristics of a habitat. Carpenter et al. (19791, in a <br />study near Kremmling, Colorado, found that mule deer selected a large amount of grasses and <br />(orbs during the winter months of January and February when snow cover was minimal. Over <br />50 percent of their diets consisted of grasses and forbs in a 30-day grazing trial. In a study by <br />Willms et al. (1979) on big sagebrush range in British Columbia, it was found that deer selected <br />68 percent of their early spring diet as grasses and forbs. <br />While big game and livestock will benefit from the increase in herbaceous cover, various bird <br />species and small mammals will also benefit from the addition of this habitat component. Food <br />and nesting cover will be increased for small mammals and birds. Raptors and other predators <br />will have increased potential for hunting success because of the more open areas and increase <br />in the population of small mammals <br />The replacement of woody vegetation types with reclaimed areas dominated by herbaceous <br />species will enhance habitat diversity in the region surrounding the Seneca II-W Mine. <br />Premining vegetation of the II-W South area includes more open areas of the western wheat <br />grass/alkali sagebrush vegetation type than other portions of the II-W permit area. The <br />potential benefits of the reclaimed area forage resources to big game have been described <br />above. Big game use in the area may actually increase during various times of the year. <br />Hungerford (1979) reported that deer appear to establish new home ranges in newly opened <br />areas because of increases in herbaceous forages. Observations at Peabody's Seneca II Mine <br />indicate that significant numbers of deer and elk are present on the mine area year-round. It <br />also appears that a small resident elk herd may have established itself in the vicinity of the <br />Seneca II Mine. Similar year round elk use is reported at the Colorado Yampa Coal Company <br />(Johnson 19901. <br />Reclaimed areas will be irregularly shaped and relatively small in relation to regional vegetation <br />and habitat surrounding the mine area. Shrub islands will be established within reclaimed <br />areas. These areas, combined with large adjoining areas of undisturbed woody vegetation in <br />and around the permit area, will increase edge and improve overall habitat diversity. <br />The loss of cover formerly provided by the woody component will be offset by grading that <br />creates topographic diversity within the general postmine landscape. This method is currently <br />being used with success at the Seneca II Mine five miles to the east. The shrub planting <br />program will be oriented towards enhancement of islands where shrub cover <br />9 Revised 1/99 <br />