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• 3.0 METHODS <br />Wildlife baseline information was collected through literature review, <br />seasonal field surveys of the Danforth Hills study area (Figure 3-1), and <br />interviews with state and federal agency biologists. Additional data <br />concerning regional wildlife distribution and abundance was gathered during <br />the Meeker PRLA Elk Mitigation and Wildlife Baseline studies (CDM 1984a, <br />1984b); these data are also discussed in this report. Specific methods <br />which were employed during the study are discussed below. <br />3.1 LITERATURE REYIEW <br />Published and unpublished sources of information concerning the regional <br />distribution and status of wildlife in northeast Rio Blanco County and the <br />White River Resource Area were reviewed. These sources included permit <br />applications for mines in the region (Colowyo, Northern Coal, Edna Mine), <br />the Northwestern Colorado Coal Leasing EIS (BLM 1976); Grazing Management <br />• Program EIS for the White River Resource Area (BLM 1980); Proposed Mining <br />and Reclamation Plan, Meeker Area Mine, Rio Blanco County, Colorado (OSM <br />1982); and the Green River-Hams Fork EIS (BLM 1983). The Colorado Division <br />of Wildlife (CDOW, Grand Junction and Denver offices) provided distribution <br />maps based on the Wildlife Resources information System (WRIS) data base <br />for wildlife species in Rio Blanco and Moffatt counties. Personal <br />communications with biologists from the CDOW (Denver, Grand Junction, and <br />Meeker), U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM, Meeker), and U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service (FWS, Grand Junction) provided further regional and <br />site-specific information. The assistance and cooperation of these <br />agencies and their staff were greatly appreciated. <br />3.2 HABITAT CLASSIFICATION AND INVENTORY <br />The predominant habitat types within the study area were identified on the <br />basis of plant species composition and topographic position. Principal <br />features characteristic of each habitat type were summarized based on <br />• vegetation inventories conducted within the study area (Harper and <br />Associates 1985) and at the adjacent Meeker coal leases (CDM 1984a, 1984b). <br />3-1 <br />