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Attachment 4 pg 3 • currently expanding their range in eastern Las Animas Counh~. As the junipers encroach upon grasslands and shrublands, wildlife habitat and pasturelazid can be negatively affected. It is likely that the greatest txgative impact ofthe Canyon Rim Stone Mine evil[ be the loss of shrubs. Roth skunkbrush (Rhos trilobata) and #ree cholla (Opuntia imbricate) aze found on the site. Skunkbnuh and tree cholla areboth heavily utilized by many wildlife species. Tree cholla provides excellent covet for sma13 mammals, reptiles, and buds. Skwiltbrush provides both food and cover for small mammals, birds, reptiles, and lazge mammals. Deer, scaled quail, turkey, and mane other species either eat skunkbrusl; berries, or eat the leaves and woody vegetation ziom skunkbnt4h. T'he impact to wildlife from shrub loss can be greatly minimized if the reclamation includes replanting Assessment of Impact: Z'he mine's impacts to wildlife are likely to be minimal. The mine's surface a~eage is small..9 relatively small amount of habitat will be lost in the construction of the mine. A fair number of shrubs may be lost, but some of those shrubs might be salvaged through transplanting. The greatest impacts to wildlife may be from the increase in human acti~dri. The area wilUhas seen increased vehicle traffic. The noise and disturbance Cmm vehicles, heairy machinery, and people may c•tuse some species of u~ldlife to avoid the area. This will be especially true during the day. When the mining activity is completed, there is the potential to make the site's wildlife habitat better thazt it was prior to mining. This will be dependant on what reclamation actions takt place. Mine Reclamation Rscoamendations {include key spetciets/habitats £crl vrhich xesto~ation is designmd): i If the foil intentior. of the reclamation is to simply put the site into pastureland, then the raining pit shoal d be bacltfilled and sloped to it's original slope. t n•ass mixes as recommended by the NRL'S should be used to establish grasu Brands, The site should not be grazed for at least oae growing season to help the grasses get established. This may have to be dare by temporarily fencing off the ree[arnafion site. T1te Jackson's indicated that they had some interest in buildnzg a permanent cattle exdosure around the site in order to manage the site specifirelly far w~idlife. By keeping cattle out of the site, it would be much easier to restore and improve the wildlife habitat. Sluubs especially have a hazd time getting established in the presence of settle. The site should be flash gazed every few years, however. Ma*ty plant species are dependant on periodic disturbance. 7'he site's scaled quail, deer, and reptile habitat quality could be improved through the ~ reclamation. If the mining process results in the fatmation of any small bluffs, it's suggested tltatthe mine's south faciae and east facing bluffs not be enSrely backfilled. A height of five to ten feet of exposed bluffcoutd be left. This will provide scaled quail with aplace to avoid avian predators, be protected from the winter's north and west winds, and fmd shade in the heat of the day. Deer tray also benefit from the bluffs and use them to get out of the elements. T'he bluffs also act as na*sal windfences that pile snow up on the downwind side. The additional snow adds necessary moisture to the soil, giving shrub species such as skunkbtush a better place to grow. if practical, the bluffs ~ should be sloped between 40°-60°. This will make it easier for quail to escape over the bluff if threatened bJ` predators belolr•. The greatest habitat loss in the construction of the mine was the loss of slnuilcbrush and cholla. if skunkbrrr_ch can be attained, it would be beneficial if it were planted throughout the site. It would be especially beneficial to plant sktmkbnish at the base and top of the bluffs. "1'ivs will provide quail with excellent cover in preferred roosting }ocations. cholla could be tracspianied onto the site to provide quail with additional cover. cholla cactus is easily transplanted, and could be transplanted •