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(2) Fish and Wildlife Plan <br />Effects of the Proposed Project on Fish and Wildlife Resources <br />This section evaluates the potential adverse effects and disturbances on the fish and wildlife <br />resource in the permit area. Factors considered during this evaluation include development and <br />operation plans for the proposed project, characteristics of the fish and wildlife resource within <br />the permit area (reference section 2.04.1 I for detailed description), and current land uses. <br />Characterization of the Fish and Wildlife Resources <br />The fish and wildlife resource in the Lorencito Canyon Mine permit area is typical of a foothills <br />environment. The overall character of the wildlife resource is upland. The topographic diversity, <br />variety of vegetation types, and relatively rural quality of the region all contribute to the existing <br />wildlife composition. The fisheries resource within the permit area consists of native species <br />typically found in these types of aquatic systems. Results of the baseline studies conducted during <br />1996 (reference section 2.04.11) indicate: <br />1. The environmental setting for the study area consists of seven habitat types. Six of these <br />were upland types. Within the permit area, the primary types were coniferous forest, <br />• grassland, mountain shrub, oak pinyon, pinyon/juniper, riparian woodland, and hay <br />meadow. <br />2. The habitat types within the Permit area supported a variety of terrestrial wildlife. Included <br />were mule deer, elk, raptors, turkeys, and various small mammals and passerine birds. The <br />primary species using the proposed surface disturbance area were ungulates and passerine <br />birds. <br />3. Within the proposed surface disturbance area, various wildlife habitats were identified. <br />These habitats include big game winter range and unique natural features such as riparian <br />areas. Habitats affected include mule deer winter range, Merriam's turkey winter <br />concentration area, and black bear fall concentration areas. <br />4. The proposed surface mine disturbance area is considered suitable habitat for the majority <br />of wildlife species occurring within the permit area. The CDOW has identified the following <br />wildlife ranges within all or portions of the proposed surface mine disturbance area, mule <br />deer winter range, elk overall range, black bear overall and fall concentration area, and <br />Merriam's turkey overall range and winter concentration area. <br />• <br />PERMIT r)5\December D, I W6 2' 05- / ~ <br />