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r gravel pit in the azea. Several lazge hay fields receive daily visits by the rancher. The habitat on <br />l the site is disturbed from past flooding and consists of vegetation that is common for the area. <br />The habitat in the project area is poor in that there is abundant bare ground within the gravelly <br />and sandy areas on the entire BLM parcel. The project azea is used primarily as a travel route for <br />mule deer that are moving from the pinyon juniper forests on the east to the green hay fields to <br />the west. The hay Gelds are private land and attract lazge numbers of mule deer throughout the <br />yeaz. <br />Environmental Consegaences/MiHgation: <br />Proposed Action: The proposed action will not impact good wildlife habitat since <br />it does not exist on the site. What exists of the old Trout Creek stream bed is mostly dry with <br />few riparian species present. The proposal will not improve riparian habitat even though the <br />potential exists for some standing water to occur in the pit that is created. The most likely <br />impact to occur will be the disruption of the movements of mule deer to foraging areas in the <br />private hay fields. This will not be significant because the gravel will be mined in phases <br />allowing areas on the sides of the mining area to be left undisturbed. In addition, mule deer will <br />become accustomed to the disruption over time and learn to avoid the mine activity. Finally, the <br />highest use by mule deer will occur during the late day thru the night hours when activity at the <br />mine site will be minimal. <br />No Action Alternative: There will be no impacts to wildlife under the no action <br />alternative. <br />Cumulative Impacts of the Proposed Action: Cumulative impacts would be <br />minimal with the proposed action. There are several large hay fields in the area, all accessible to <br />mule deer. While the mine area may farce deer to change travel patterns they will still be able to <br />access the private hay fields. <br />Finding on the Pnbiic Land Health Standard for Plant and Animal Communities <br />(partial, see atso vegetation and Wildlife, Aquatic): The proposed action will not affect the gublic land <br />health standard for plant and animal communities. <br />OTHER NON-CRITICAL ELEMENTS: For the following elements, those brought forward for <br />analysis will be formatted as shown above. <br />Non-Critical Element NA or Not AppUcable or Applicable & Present and <br />Present Present, No Fact Hroupht Forward for Analysis <br />Cadastral Surve X <br />Fire X <br />Forest Mana ement X <br />Geolo and Minerals X <br />H drolo /WaterRi is X <br />Law Enforcement X <br />Paleontolo X <br />15 <br />