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<br />Wildlife <br />Mine Area <br />The predominant types of wildlife inhabiting the mine site are elk, deer, coyote, grouse, <br />beaver, and rainbow and cutthroat trout. Mountain lion, bobcat, and turkey are also found in <br />the area. <br />Approximately 200 elk inhabit Stony Ridge, while only about 50 elk inhabit Marion Ridge. <br />They migrate into Stony Ridge during the winter. Deer locate primarily on the lower <br />grassland during the winter, later moving to a summer range above the mine. <br />There are about ten beaver dams in a quarter-mile area immediately downstream from the <br />mine. Beaver have been introduced into the area by the company and are active in the spring <br />and summer. Grouse are found on Stony Ridge and on other north-facing slopes. <br />Rainbow and cutthroat trout are abundant and reproduce downstream from the mine, while <br />rainbow trout live upstream as well. <br />No endangered species are known to be present in the mining area, nor is there any critical <br />wildlife habitat or high value habitat. <br />Loadout Area <br />The pinon-juniper community type occupies slopes and ridge tops over much of the azea <br />associated with the truck dump. Pinon pine and Utah juniper form open, low density stands in <br />which both shrub and herbaceous understory are very sparse. The pinon mouse, least <br />chipmunk, and Colorado chipmunk are characteristic of this community. Bobcats may <br />frequent the area searching for rodents, and mule deer and elk traverse the area as they pass <br />from bedding grounds to feeding ground. The most common birds in this community type <br />include the pinon jay, scrub jay magpie, and various raptors. <br />During 1992, the Aspen Glen Company permitted a planned unit development (residential and <br />golf course) on land which included the loadout permit area. That land has subsdequently been <br />developed. A nesting pair of bald eagles was identified on land west of the permit area. <br />The sagebrush community generally associated with deeper soils is also present in the permit <br />area. Herbaceous cover is sparse, although diverse, and may provide limited winter browse <br />for elk and mule deer. Other animal species which may be encountered include the sagebrush <br />vole, least chipmunk, Colorado chipmunk, American bobcat, and the jackrabbit. The most <br />common bird encountered is the sage sparrow, although numerous other species of birds utilize <br />this community for feed and cover. <br />The riparian habitat along the Roaring Fork River, with vegetation dominated by trees such as <br />cottonwoods and willows, is mostly surrounded by developed land. Bird species encountered <br />here included the white-crowned sparrow, Lincoln sparrow, gray-headed junco, and mountain <br />chickadees. Raptors may perch in the taller cottonwoods. Small mammals encountered <br />s <br />