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6. Firearms aze and will be strictly controlled on the permit area to control poaching. Wildlife Monitoring. The initial wildlife monitoring program consisted of: 1. Winter aerial survey fox big game Qanuary/February) 2. Monitoring Columbian sharp-tailed grouse leks, golden eagle nest activity, and sandhill crane activity (April) SCC began collecting winter aerial big game census data in 1985. The survey area included the permit area and cone-mile perimeter (17.5 mi~. Two flight sttrveys were conducted in 1985, Febmary 15° and Mazch 15d, to get an initial feel of winter big game concentrations. These flight surveys indicated there was very little use of the Seneca II survey area by deer or elk as evidenced by lack of sighted animals ox tracks (1 elk/ miz , 0.5 deer/ miz). See Tab 14, Appendix 14-1, Wildlife Observations and Mitigation forfurther ducuJrionr. The survey azea was increased in size in 1994 (84.5 mil) to include Seneca II, Yoast and II-W Mines and again in 1996 to 89.5 mil. This expanded area has been surveyed each year from 1996 through 2006. Elk densities in the Seneca II azea from 19942006 ranged from 2.9 elk/ miz (2002) to 26.1 elk/ mil (2005). The observed trend in density generally follows that of the expanded azea. Elk were only recorded in reclaimed grassland at the Seneca II Mine during the December 1994, January 2000 and February 2005 surveys. This suggests that elk likely avoid grassland habitats (reclaimed or otherwise) when deep snow makes forage less accessible. Reclaimed grasslands are more attractive to • elk during other seasons. See Seneca II Mine 2006 Annua! Reclamation Report, IYlildlife Report forfurther J dU'CUJSIOnJ. During the aerial surveys, most mule deer have been associated with sloping mountain brush habitats ox steep, exposed south-facing slopes in the expanded survey azea. Mule deer expend more energy walking through snow than elk and typically concentrate in azeas with high quality forage, which is available in conjunction with lower snow depths. See Seneca 77 Mine 2006 Annual Reclamation Report, TP/ild&fe Report far fuKher dircuJJionJ. The results of the past +20 years of annual winter aerial surveys at Seneca II indicate that big game winter use is more a function of winter snow depth and general herd movements rather than xecIaimed vegetation success since no definitive use trends axe shown based on the survey counts and population densities within the Seneca II survey area. Therefore, SCC will cease conducting annual winter big game aerial surveys at the Seneca II Mine, but will continue conducting the annual spring (April) surveys for monitoring Columbian sharp-tailed grouse leks, golden eagle nest activity, and sandhill crane activity. Results of the annual wildlife monitoring will be included in the annual reclamation report. •) TR-44 14-12 Revised 4/07