Laserfiche WebLink
Exhibit H - Wildlife Information <br />The operation is expected to have relatively minimal impact on <br />wildlife during the course of operations. Mining will have the effect of <br />immediately displacing animals inhabiting the area to be disturbed and <br />animals using the area for foraging or hunting. In addition to the <br />information provided herein, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has been <br />contacted for their assessment. <br />The elements of potential wildlife habitat are rated according to the <br />amount of vegetation that is available to wildlife as food and cover. The <br />kind and abundance of wildlife that populate an area depend largely on the <br />amount and distribution of food, cover, and water. If any one of these <br />elements is missing, inadequate, or inaccessible, wildlife becomes scarce <br />or does not inhabit the area. A portion of the affected area has been <br />previously disturbed by mining. Much of the immediately adjacent area is <br />steep and the vegetation consists of grasses, fortis, few shrubs, and <br />various densities of conifers, depending on exposure. Rock outcroppings <br />are also present. Various amounts of cover and nesting areas are available <br />in such areas. The soils are generally coarse and but produce plants that <br />provide food and some nesting areas. The channel through the affected area <br />is primarily intermittent/ephemeral. Perennial sources of water are <br />available upstream at springs and nearby Fountain Creek. <br />According to ratings established by the Soil Conservation Service <br />relating soils, vegetation types, and wildlife habitat potentials, the <br />capability of the soils to support the main kinds of wildlife habitat in <br />the area would be generally rated as poor for openland-type of habitat and <br />fair rangeland-type of habitat, depending on the presence of habitat <br />