PERMFILE116212

• Permit No: C1981071
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: PART 779 PAGE 109 TO 216
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Section 779.20 (c) Continued.
the probable routes utilized by elk inhabiting the study area.
Early June field stodies determined through the limited number
of fresh elk pellet groups and greater number of two to three
month old pellet groups that these routes were used predominantly
for seasonal movement and to a lesser extent for diurnal activities.
Information gathered from the CDOW, USFWS (1978), and the BLM identi-
fied the existence of one elk calving ground within the mine plan
area (See ltaentymile Park Wildlife Agency Information (Map 27)).
Other calving areas are present within the general region, but
delineation of these areas was beyond the scope of this study.
Field investigations conducted between May 29 and June 15, 1979
resulted in the delineation of the more precise boundaries for
the mine plan calving ground as shown on the Eckman Park Elk
Calving Observations (Map 22).
• Preferred calving habitat components have been described as follows:
". calving grounds are located in the transition zone
where escape and thermal cover in the form of forests exist
for the cows; where there is hiding cover in the form of
shrubs or dead and down logs, etc., for relatively immobile
newborn calves; where succulent forage is available for the
lactating female; where water is within 305 meters; and
where the terrain is gentle, allowing easy movement of the
cow immediately before and after parturition (Thomas, et. al.
1977 in Carrier, et. al. 1977)".
In addition, Seidel (1977), describes these areas as aspen benches
containing a dense understory of snowberry and chokecherry; found
between 8,000 and 9,000 feet elevation, and located within 3/4 mile
of their winter range and generally along a spring migration route.
In all cases "edge effect" seems to be a predominant component of
suitable habitat. Johnson (1951) reports finding three fourths
of the active elk calves in sagebrush meadow and the rest in or
• at the edge of timber. He also found 42 percent of the newborn
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