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f~ecember 1.2003 <br />Page 3-11 <br />This mitigation measure would be highly effective in preventing impacts to riparian vegetation that <br />exists along Raven Creek. <br />2) No surface occupancy or use would be allowed on LBA tract lands defined as wetlands per U.S. <br />Army Corp of Engineers regulations and guidelines. This mitigation measure would be highly <br />effective in preventing impacts to jurisdictional wetlands. <br />3.6 Wildlife <br />For wildlife, the project impact area is the West Flatiron LBA tract area. The cumulative impact area <br />includes the area encompassed by the West Elk Mine. <br />3.6.1 Existing Conditions <br />3.6.9.9 Habitat <br />Mesa tops and drier slopes support a mountain shrub community. Higher and moist slopes support mixed <br />conifer forest of mainly Douglas-fir, often mixed with aspen, and pure aspen stands exist along steep <br />gully bottoms. Riparian forest occurs in a narrow and broken band along Raven Gulch and the small <br />unnamed drainage in Section 13. Colorado blue spruce, alder, and Douglas-fir are the most common <br />riparian forest species. <br />Raven Gulch is a small, perennial stream with relatively steep gradients and beds of cobble and boulders. <br />This stream may support small fish but does not provide habitat for significant fisheries. Discontinuous <br />sandstone cliffs up to about 50 feet high border much of the West Flatiron mesa, providing ledge and <br />crevice habitats for cliff-dwelling wildlife. <br />3.6.9.2 Big Came <br />Big game in the area include elk, mule deer, black bear, and mountain lion. Elk mostly occur during spring <br />and fall migrations, and tend to use Raven Gulch as a movement corridor (Forest Service, 2002). Elk may <br />use dense forest areas for calving during late spring and early summer, and most of the lease area is <br />mapped by Colorado Division of Wildlife as elk summer range (Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2003). Elk <br />may occasionally winter on lower south and west-facing slopes in the West Flatiron LBA tract, which is <br />mapped by Colorado Division of Wildlife as elk winter range. See Figure 3-3, Elk Winter Range. <br />Mule deer are common from spring through fall, and the lease tract is mapped by Colorado Division of <br />Wildlife as mule deer summer range. Deer usually winter at lower elevations. Deer fawning occurs in <br />mountain shrublands, dense riparian forests, and forest edges. <br />Black bear are common in the area, particularly in mountain shrublands and riparian forests where <br />acorns, berries, (orbs, and roots are abundant. Mountain lions use the area, but in low numbers in the <br />LBA area. <br />cnvironmentai t~ssessrrient <br />WesE ~'2iiiron ! F3F. Tract <br />Gu~7:~isoi't County. Galoracto <br />