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determined that the value of forage plants available to deer and elk is ~an important <br />consideratiori in addition to structural.characteristics of a habitat. Carpenter et al. 119791, in <br />a study near Kremmling, Colorado, found that mule deer selected a large amount of grasses <br />and forbs duringthe winter months of January and February when snow cover was minimal. <br />Over 50 percent of'their diets consisted of grasses,~and forbs ih a 30-day grazing trial. In a <br />study by Willms•et al. 11979) oh big sagebrush range in British Columbia, it~was found that <br />deer selected 68 percent of their early spring diet as grasses and forbs. <br />While big game and livestock will benefi[~~from the increase in herbaceous cover, various bird ~~ <br />species and small mammals will also benefit from the addition ~of this habitat component. <br />Food and nesting cover will be increased for small mammals and birds. Raptbrs and other <br />predators will have increased potential for hunting success because of the more open areas <br />and increase 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 I t 9791 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 />~.pr.ogram will be oriented towards enhancement of ~ islands where shrub cover <br />9 ~ Revised 1 /99 <br />