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III III III IIIIIII III <br />~ `'j'`I n~ P~® <br />S E P 2 5 1991 <br />fviined Land <br />Reclam t~' n Division <br />BIG GAME ANIMAL CROSSING STUDY ALONG AN OVERLAND CO <br />CONVEYOR STRUCTURE IN NORTHWEST COLORADO. <br />TIMOTHY M. CHERVICK, Western Fuels-Utah Inc., P.O. Box 1067, <br />Rangely, CO. 81648. <br />Abstract: <br />Western Fuels-Utah Inc. conducted 20 big game track count <br />surveys, (Winter and Spring months of 1988 -1991), along 5.6 <br />kilometers of a large diameter overland conveyance structure <br />(LDOC) near Rangely, Colorado located in Rio Blanco County. <br />Results of these surveys and wildlife observations have been <br />used to evaluate the success of 14 overpass, underpass, and <br />elevated conveyor beltr~ne structures that were installed in <br />1982 as part of the serado Mine's wildlife mitigation <br />plan. A total of 10 big game animal crossings were <br />fabricated and installed along the Deserado Mine overland <br />conveyor beltline, along with 4 additional underpass <br />structures that were placed over roadways that crossed the <br />area. <br />Big game tracks were identified and enumerated in order <br />to determine preferred conveyor crossings. Total track <br />counts were tabulated and presented in this report, along <br />with conveyor noise dosimeter measurements to compare with <br />other conveyor studies published. This information will <br />provide wildlife managers and environmental personnel in <br />government and industry alike, with data on success of man- <br />made structures in allowing wildlife to cross a large <br />diameter overland conveyor unimpeded. <br />Western Fuels-Utah Inc. installed three types of overpass <br />and underpass structures in 1982 during construction of a <br />5.6 kilometer overland coal conveyor structure (Types I,II, <br />and III). Elk (Cervus elaphus), Mule Deer (Odocoileus <br />hemionus), and Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana) <br />tracks were counted as passage across the conveyor system. <br />Data in the past on coal conveyors included Mule Deer~but <br />not Elk or Antelope (Dalton 1985). Western Fuels conducted <br />research on the effectiveness of the crossings installed on <br />its conveyor system. <br />During the construction phase of this project, animal use <br />of overpasses and underpasses showed little sign of use. <br />The vegetation along the topsoiled and revegetated <br />