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WILDLIFE <br />The proposed mining area is agricultural land. There are three <br />housing units on the site and a separate group of barns and out- <br />buildings. The land has been intensively utilized and changed from <br />its natural state by man. Construction of the 2-70 highway has <br />limited wildlife access to and use of the site. t4ining activity <br />will not block migration routes. <br />The most valuable wildlife habitat at this site is the riparian <br />corridor along the Eagle River. This will remain undisturbed. <br />The mining plan proposes a variable-width corridor along the river <br />based on preserving the riparian trees and those which line the <br />Schumm Ditch No. 1. In general mining activity will remain at least <br />70 feet from the river. In one location the distance drops to 50 <br />feet and at Area A is a minimum of 150 feet. The variable width <br />allows for preservation of trees and eliminates the necessity of <br />leaving an embankment intruding into the excavation area. <br />Wildlife studies of other mining operations have indicated that <br />sand and gravel mining and wildlife co-exist (R.E. Stoecker, Ph.D., <br />Wildlife Monitoring Studies). Animals identified by Dr. Stoecker <br />at an operating mine site included raccoons, coyotes, deer, prairie <br />dogs, rabbits, muskrats, beaver, marmots and several species of <br />squirrels, mice and voles. Raptorial and other birds were also <br />abundant. <br />No endangered species are known to be resident at this site. The <br />Division of Wildlife considers the impact of mining on wildlife to <br />be "minor". <br />