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hlumerous studies have shown the importance of habitat diversity, <br />interspersior, and edge effect upon wildlife populations. Strict AOC <br />requirements and a tendency to require reduced overall slopes following <br />mining has resulted in long uniform unbroken slopes of limited topographic <br />diversity at some mines. Piining provides an opportunity to increase habitat <br />diversity by increasing topographic diversity. Topographic diversity is <br />important from several aspects. It creates diversity in micro-climates <br />which will aid vegetative diversity as succession proceeds on mine sites. <br />In addition, it provides security cover for big game animals. Several <br />studies, Kuck (11984), Ward (1976) and 6 years of study at CYCC, have <br />shown that big game animals can tolerate many types of disturbance such as, <br />mining and vehicle traffic. However, these studies and others Ward and <br />Cupal (1979), Freddy et al. (1980), Plorgantini and Hudson (1978) <br />show that big game animals are much more sensitive to direct human <br />disturbance. Lyon (1975), Marcum (1975), 41ard (1985) ar~d Kuck (1984) <br />have found that big game animals use topographic barriers in response to <br />human disturbance. These authors have suggested that topographic barriers <br />are a viable alternative to minimizing disturbance from human disturbance <br />and land management practices. Discussions with Colorado Division cf <br />lildlife indicate that they are in support of increasing topographic <br />diversity at mine sites such as CYCC. A good example of the type of <br />security cover that would be beneficial to big game animals is the swale at <br />tYie top of Area 9 and 10. This swale provides a local topographic barrier <br />along the ridge top along which big game animals migrate and move to various <br />areas. As mining decreases and hunting pressure increases, topographic <br />diversity is likely to be very important to the maintenance of big game use, <br />• particularly elk, on the mine site. This is particularly true with the <br />absence of vegetative cover such as trees and large shrubs which take time <br />to develop. Furthermore, the establishment of trees and large shrubs can be <br />enhanced by the creation of micro climates more suitable to their survival. <br />• <br />- 53(a) - Revised 04/11/S8 <br />