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• TWC has surveyed the expanded area nine times: December 1994, each January from <br />1995 through 1998, and each February from 1999 through 2002. With the exception of three <br />years (1994, 1996 and 1998), elk densities in the expanded area have remained relatively <br />constant, averaging between 7.3 to 8.8 elk/mi (Figure 1). The low density recorded during the <br />December 1994 survey was likely due to poor ground conditions (patchy snow cover) and the use <br />of a fixed-wing aircraft for the survey. Both of those factors affected the observers' ability to <br />detect animals and resulted in under counting. Considerably more elk were observed a month <br />later, January 1995, when the area was surveyed from a helicopter. The high elk density <br />observed in 1996 was likely influenced by excessive snowpack that year in the higher elevations <br />of the Williams Fork Mountains. The deep snow probably pushed more animals out of the <br />Figure 1. Elk density on the expanded and Seneca II-W Mine areas during winter aerial <br />surveys from 1994 through 2002. <br />zo <br />• <br />Is <br />d <br />d <br />to <br />3 <br />w <br />5 <br />0 <br />Year <br />E~anded survey area: 84.5 miz (19941995), 89.5 min (19962002). <br />Seneca 11-W survey area: 35 min (19942002). <br />• <br />2002 Seneca tl-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 4 <br />1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 <br />