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• The backfilling and grading as required in Section 4.14.2 will <br />assure that topographic features and drainage patterns will be <br />returned to approximate original contour. <br />Wildlife species inhabiting the permit area that have the most <br />potential for being affected include deer, elk, sage grouse, and <br />raptors. However, experience to date has shown that all of these <br />species have adapted to the presence of the Colowyo operation, <br />resulting in minimal impact. Most of the mitigation measures, <br />protection measures, and habitat improvement techniques are <br />directed toward this wildlife group. <br />Rance and Wildlife Management Programs <br />Data collected during pre-mine studies during 1974 - 1976 indicated <br />overuse by cattle, deer, and elk. A majority of the browse species <br />(serviceberry, oak, snowberry, bitterbrush, sage, chokecherry) <br />showed overutilization to varying degrees. (It has been evident <br />both past and present that many of the shrubs are in a decadent <br />condition.) <br />• The results of past poor range management practices and heavy <br />browse use have been a reduction in growth with less available <br />forage. In addition, species such as oak and serviceberry have <br />grown taller, with palatable growth being limited to a height which <br />can be reached only by the largest animals. <br />As oak and serviceberry have grown taller, large windbreaks have <br />been created. In the winter, these areas hold the snow, which <br />becomes deep enough to limit all access by deer and elk. Fifteen <br />years of observations on the permit area have shown that winter use <br />of the mountain shrub type by elk and deer is highly dependent on <br />snow depth and severity of winter weather conditions. The use of <br />the serviceberry has been limited to shrubs near the edges of the <br />stands where less snow buildup occurs. Depending on snow depth, <br />elk and deer populations tend to concentrate on south facing hill <br />slope areas where snow depth is minimal. <br /> <br />2.05-66 <br />