REV102571 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The herbaceous understory of the riparian zone is highly variable where upland species dominate. In the Elk and Bear Creek drainages riparian habitat is very limited and in poor condition. Species such as cottonwoods and willows aze limited. Many cottonwoods are old and beginning to die out and there is little regeneration to replace these trees. The poor quality of these riparian areas is reflected in the low amount of use by species of wildlife normally associated with this type. There is some better riparian habitat in the Hubbard Creek drainage that does support more wildlife. Due to the 500 foot setback stipulation in the Elk Creek Federal Coal Lease, none of this habitat will be affected by activities associated with the mining operations. There are small pockets of riparian habitat in other areas, such as the large slump area in the upper reaches of the Elk Creek drainage, but none of this habitat will be affected. Mass Wastin¢/Slumo areas The project area is typified by the presence of landslides. landslides involve the mass movement of earth materials down slopes and can include debris floes, soil creep, and slumping of large blocks of material. The mass downslope movement of earth materials is also referred to as mass wasting. Within the project azea landslides and mass wasting aze common. Small slides are found in the Hubbadd and Beaz Creek drainages. Slides or slumping in these azeas aze generally small and do not affect many acres. In the upper reaches of Elk Creek between the drainage bottom and the ridge just south of Thousand Acre Flats there aze very extensive azeas of mass wasting. This azea has been slumping for thousands of years and will continue to do so. As slumping occurs Aspen and mountain shrub habitat is lost. This habitat is replaced with willows and cottonwoods that become established in these azeas. This situation actually adds diversity to the habitat and some species of wildlife take advantage of this condition. The slumping that occurs in the Elk Creek drainage extends to the drainage bottom above the forest boundary. This at time interrupts flows in the stream and causes high sediment loading. As a result conditions aze lacking that would support a viable fishery in the stream. Small slides in the Beaz Creek drainage add to the sediment load which could affect a fishery if one existed. However, the stream can be intermittent and in the summer stream flows are commonly less than one CFS, which would preclude this stream fmm being a viable fishery within the project area. WILDLIFE Raptors During surveys conducted in May and June, both active and inactive nests for several species of raptors were located (Figure 1). Nests were found in three habitat types: Aspen, Douglas-fir and cliffs. Nests most commonly located were those of accipiters in mature Aspen and Douglas-fir stands. The only raptor nest found in a cliff was that of a golden eagle. All raptor nest locations aze shown on Figure 1. Nest numbers on Figure 1 correspond to data for each nest site found in Table 1. 10