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The shrubs tended to shear or break off easily evhen the ground was frozen leaving the root <br />. systems undisturbed. During the following spring, vigorous new growth from root sprouting <br />occurred, and easy access was provided for deer and elk. This technique has had the <br />additional effect of allowing grasses and f orbs to establish stands that will compete with the <br />shrub, thus suppressing growth to a height useable by wildlife. Approximately 30 acres of <br />overmature decadent shrubs, i.e„ serviceberry, oak, and chokecherry was "brushed" on an <br />annual basis through 1936. <br />Although no specific data has been collected on These areas, general observations have shown <br />that the areas are heavily utilized by both deer and elk. On all of the areas, any new shrub <br />sprouting is kept down to a height of only a few inches. The one acre plot that was cleared of <br />vegetation and fenced in 1977 for testing by the Meeker Environmental Plant Center can be <br />used as a good comparison of the differences between browsed and unbrowsed areas that <br />have had similar treatments. Several of the unbrowsed shrubs that have grown up from root <br />sprouting in the Plant Center plot have attained heights of up to four feet in just a few years. <br />Over a five year period, we feel the cumulative effects of improving 50-75 acres per year for <br />deer and elk use has been increasingly successful in meeting the objectives of increasing <br />available forage and drawing wildlife away from reclaimed areas. <br />This wildlife mitigation program is considered a success and was discontinued at permit <br />renewal as reclaimed areas are now attracting a large population of local wildlife populations. <br />Also, suitable areas within the permit for this mitigation had been increasingly difficult to <br />find. Much of the habitat suitable for improvement had already been completed. <br />• Saaeerouse Mitigation <br />In a preliminary findings document dated December 11, 1981, the Division requested <br />additional information on sagegrouse use of the Co[owyo permit area and a description of <br />habitat mitigation measures. Colowyo submitted the following response, dated May 25, 1982, <br />which satisfied the remaining concerns of the Division. <br /> <br />2.05-68 <br />