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Topography <br />Changes in topography are expected to have a minor effect on big game animals as <br />recontouring back to the approximate original contour will substantially mitigate <br />this effect. Recontouring will be accomplished to provide a variable topography <br />that will promote diverse habitats for vegetation and wildlife. Mule deer and <br />elk use topographical features as cover, both from weather and disturbance (Love- <br />less, 1969). Gulches and ridges are used for escape cover while the lee side of <br />ridges is used for windbreaks. Until shrubs are well established, topography <br />will be [he principle cover available for big game. Recontouring, combined with <br />mature shrub transplants, will provide the necessary habitats for establishment <br />and maintenance of big game range. <br />As discussed in Section 2.4 of this application, mule deer and elk migration cor- <br />ridors traverse through the southern edge of the proposed mine plan area along <br />the ridge of the Williams Fork Mountains. The elk migration corridor ends near <br />Che western edge of the proposed mine plan area (Map M22). Mining activities <br />will have little effect on these corridors because they do not cut across or <br />block the corridor. This allows big game animals to continue to migrate south of <br />the proposed mine plan area. Recontouring of spoils will reestablish the nor- <br />thern portion of these corridors and in combination with shrub reestablishment, <br />will provide the needed cover for use of the migration corridors by big game ani- <br />mals. <br />ReveRetation <br />Although off-site treatments will mitigate the effects of mining for a short per- <br />iod of time, successful revege[a[ion will dictate the final and most permanent <br />effect of the Trapper ?fine on big game animals. The seeding of native species of <br />value to big game animals, as discussed in Section 3.6, will provide the quality <br />and quantity of forage needed to meet the nutritional requirements of big game <br />animals. I[ is expected [hat forage production on the re vegetated areas will be <br />equal to or exceed that on undisturbed sites. <br /> <br />4-156 <br />