Laserfiche WebLink
<br />' Habitats within the project area are generally in good <br /> condition for wildlife use. However, most areas have a poor <br />' grass cover, probably a result of past grazing practi ces. <br /> Erosion and gullying have occurred in the intermittent <br /> drainages, and the bed of Rito Seco Creek has been incised 15 <br />' to 20 ft into the underlying Santa Fe Formation. Beavers have <br /> altered the riparian zone extensively by cutting almost all <br />' cottonwood trees and some willows. The beavers have moved from <br /> upstream to downstream as the mature trees were depleted from <br />' an area. The beavers have also dammed and channeled the Rito <br /> Seco. Active and inactive beaver ponds are evident along the <br /> Rito Seco from just below the East Pit area to the western <br />f th <br />iliti <br />i <br />ti <br />t f <br />P <br />i <br />i <br />d <br />l edge <br />h <br /> rev <br />ous m <br />n <br />ora <br />on <br />o <br />e projec <br />ac <br />es. <br />ng an <br />exp as <br /> disturbed much of the area proposed for development as open <br />' pits. Extensive cutting of wood for firewood has depleted some <br /> areas of forest within the project area. <br />' <br /> H.2 Wildlife Species Present <br />' The wildlife species present are common for this foothills area <br />1 and include a variety of large and small mammals, birds, reptiles, <br />amphibians, and fish. The larger mammal and bird species use the <br />site as part of a wider or seasonal range. Other species are resident <br />in the project area. This foothills zone has a fairly high diversity <br />of wildlife species, primarily because of the varying habitats <br />' present. A list of those species actually observed, as well as <br />species expected but not actually observed during field studies, is <br />' given in Table H.2-1. <br />Wildlife species and the habitat types were determined by <br />general reconnaissance during three field trips, by walking transects <br />in all habitats, and by driving surveys along roads at dawn and dusk. <br />' In addition, all observations of wildlife and their sign (tracks, <br />fecal material, bones, etc.) were recorded when on the site or in <br />' the vicinity. <br />' H-2 <br />