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Control of Vegetation Distribution by Land Uses Within the permit area. natural ve?etative communities have heen modif!~d to v~.n,~~ng degrees by man and domestic animals. Much of the land along toe-slopes and valley bottoms has been cleared of native vegetation and is currently used for dryland agriculture. [vtost of the north-facing slopes in the area have been historically used for the grazing of sheep and/or cattle. The farming and ranching have produced a mosaic of vegetation communities in the permit azea. Vegetation Distribution in Permit Area As one goes from east to west in the permit azea, the mountain shrub community gradually thins (in terms of density and cover) and gives way to a community of big sagebrush and grasses on the west end of the mine. Descending northward from the ridge of the Williams Fork Mountains, several changes in community composition are evident. At elevations above 7,200 feet, Gambel's oak dominates the mountain shrub community; serviceberry and chokecherry aze less abundant. Snowberry is the most conspicuous understory component, with an occasional big sagebrush, rubber rabbitbrush, or bitterbrush. Gambel's oak becomes less dominant at lower elevations as sagebrush, serviceberry, and chokecherry aze interspersed; oak dominates only on east-facing slopes. At the lowest elevations, serviceberry/chokecherry diminish in abundance, leaving a community dominated by sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and grasses. Wi dlife Fauna aze diverse in and adjacent to the permit area due to the wide variety of habitat types. Antelope aze found year-round in the lower sagebrush and cropland areas. Mule deer are found during all seasons of the yeaz in the mountain shrub community, sagebtush/grass community, and pinyon/juniper community (pinyon/junipernccurs south of the permit azea). Elk use the permit azea primarily in the fall, winter, and early spring. In the summer months, elk remain at higher elevations in the Williams Fork mountains, east of the permit azea. Blue grouse, sharptail grouse, and sage grouse are all residents or occasional residents of the permit azea. and es Land uses in the area are rangeland, wildlife habitat, and agriculture. Cattle and sheep are grazed in the Williams Fork Ivfountains and on the toe-slopes of the mountains in the spring and fall. Dryland wheat is cultivated in favorable areas on the colluvial toe-slopes of the Williams Fork Mountains. Native hay and some dryland wheat is cultivated on the soils of the Yampa and Williams Fort: River valleys. The area provides habitat and migration routes for antelope, elk and mule deer. Raptors, several species of game birds, and numerous smaller mammals are found in the Williams Fork Mountains, and surrounding areas. TYaopeY Mine 11 May 13, 1999