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<br />t CONCLUSIONS <br />This study has been conducted to satisfy stipulations to the CYCC mine <br />and reclamation plan to document the impacts surface coal mining has on <br />' calving elk. Mining has been conducted in an area that had been identified as <br />a traditional elk calving ground. It was felt that mining of the area would <br />result in significant negative impacts on elk. Therefore, the area was ini- <br />' tially declared unsuitable for mining. However, this unsuitability designa- <br />tion was reversed as additional information became available regarding the <br />' extent of the elk calving area. It was subsequently decided that this area <br />could be leased and mined and the anticipated negative impacts which were ex- <br />' pected as a result of mining could be substantially mitigated by a study, <br />because the situation provided an excellent opportunity to study the specific <br />' effects of coal mining on elk behavior. <br />Some of the reasons for the anticipated negative impacts on the local elk <br />' herd were initially thought to include the following: <br />t 1. It was assumed that use by elk (as a sensitive wildlife species) <br />would be reduced 100% within a quarter mile radius of mine facili- <br />' ties and active mining (Green River-Hams Fork Coal Region Round Two <br />Draft Environmental Impact Statement). <br />' 2. It was felt that elk exhibited a high degree of fidelity year after <br />year to calving sites and it was not known if they could success- <br />' fully relocate to adjacent habitat (Seidel 1977). <br />' 3. It was felt that mining may result in abandonment of high quality <br />calving areas. Some studies have shown the importance of high <br />' quality spring and summer range to reproductive potential in deer <br />(Robinette et al. 1955, Julander et al. 1961) and it was felt that <br />' elk may be displaced into less desirable habitat. <br />4. It was felt that mining could result in disturbances that would <br />' cause increased movement and harassment of calving elk resulting in <br />stress at a time when energy demands are already at their peak due <br />' to late stages of gestation, lactation and growth of calves. <br />' -16- <br />