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SttYia: 2.04.11 <br />Habitat values in the Permit and immediately adjacent areas are limited by the rugged terrain, semi- <br />• grid environment, and insulting limited water availability and vegetation. The high plateaus <br />tmmediately to the north and the mountains to the east and south support a coniferous commumty <br />with significantly greater wildlife diversity and densities. These surrounding auras provide important <br />habitat for a variety of big game and other animal species including important winter range for both <br />deer and ells Both deer and elk utilize the Permit and adjacent areas at various times of yfaz and there <br />is some north-south movement between adjacent azeas through the numerous intermittent and <br />ephemeral drainage valleys, although no major migration routes have been identified in this area. <br />With the exceptions of Hubbard Geek and the North Fork of the Gunnison River, the drainages in <br />the Permit area are all small intermittent or ephemeral streams that do not have sufficient sustained <br />flows to support fisheries or significant aquatic cotntnuttities. Hubbard Geek exhibits sustained flows <br />throughout the yt az but does not support a fishery due to its narrow channel, relatively steep gradient, <br />and consequent moderate to high flow velocity. The North Fork supports a limited fishery which is <br />constrained by storage and release of water from Paonia Reservoir, high spring sediment levels, <br />imgation water withdrawals, imgation return flows, and nongame fish species. Generally, the upper <br />portion of the North Fork above the Town of Somerset u a good fishery with favorable habitat <br />conditions, and a variety of aquatic life. Below Somerset, habitat conditions decline due to increasing <br />sediment in the river from the numerous small, steep tributary drainages and increased densities of <br />nongame fish species. <br />Fish and wildlife species occurrence u generallydefined bycompatible ecological associations but may <br />vary locally due to differences in terrain, aspect, vegetation, and other factors (micro-habitat). A <br />summary of species potentially occurring in the Pemrit and adjacent areas u included in Exhibit 2.04- <br />E7, Fish and Wildlife Information. <br />• Fish and WddGfe Constiltation and Impact Studies <br />OMI and previous mine operators have consulted with the CROW relative to planned mining-related <br />surface disturbance and potential related impacts to fish and wildlife resources. The following <br />S++mm~n~r5 CROW consultation for recent surface disturbance activities. Copies of consultation <br />documentation are provided in Exhibit 2.04-E7, Fish and Wildlife Information. <br />~• Initial CROW review of wildlife issues for the Somerset Mme in 1978, with an update in <br />July 19so <br />~• CDOW wildlife statement for the Sanborn Creek Mme development activities, dated <br />April 5, 1990 <br />CROW wildlife statement, dated October 1, 1991, for the 1997 coal stockpile expansion <br />J. CROW wildlife statement, dated Match 24, 1992, for the Sanborn East Tract <br />underground expansion <br />• CDOW wildlife statement, dated May 24, 1994, for construction of Substation No. 3 <br />CDOW wildlife statement, dated November 28, 1995, for disturbance associated with the <br />West Valley Fill and haul road <br />'/• CROW wildlife statements for exploration drilling activities, dated December 21, 1998 <br />• and January 4, 1999 <br />~• CDOW (Personal ~mm,+~ication) for leasing and subsequent development of the Elk <br />Creek Tray Federal Coal Lease (North Fork Coal EIS) <br />PR04 2.04-107 Revised August 2000 <br />