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sagegrouse Mitigation <br />I. Ongoing Mitigation Offsetting Current Loss of <br />sagegrouse Habitat Due to Mining. <br />Prior to 1976 due to the prior landowners' grazing <br />practices, the rangeland both within the permit area <br />and surrounding areas was in an overgrazed condition. <br />After 1976 the following changes in the management <br />of the land, then owned by Colowyo, took place which <br />indirectly increased the sagegrouse nesting and brood <br />rearing capacity of the overall area. This increased <br />carrying capacity of the sagegrouse habitat provides the <br />mitigation for any displaced sagegrouse population during <br />mining. <br />1. From 1976 until 1979 all livestock grazing was <br />stopped in order to allow the range to rest and to <br />• return to a more productive state. The immediate <br />benefit to sagegrouse was the increased production <br />of herbaceous vegetation which, along with insects, <br />is an important component to the sagegrouse brood <br />population diet. A secondary benefit was the end <br />of any nest trampling and end of disturbance and <br />heavy grazing around watering areas due to live- <br />stock grazing. <br />2. During 1976 a fence was constructed around the <br />Federal coal lease which eliminated all further <br />livestock grazing in this area. Since 1976 to the <br />present, sagegrouse have continued to benefit as <br />described as #1 above. <br />3. All other areas outside of the lease fence (approx- <br />imately 6,000 acres) have been grazed since 1979 at <br />60$ of carrying capacity. This rate would allow <br />C~ <br />2.05-69 <br />