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10/19/94 01:48 X900 4811 WILDLIFE N.W. ~ X009 <br />\\' <br />.~;~W ': <br />~~~ '' Memorandum <br />~~• <br />To: gill Clark <br />Pram: Chuck woodWara ~~i` <br />Date: 10 -10-94 <br />Subject: Cyprus rtimpire Coal Request <br />The area where this exploratory drilliny and seismic operation i3 <br />proposed 3s inhabited by deer, elk, and antelope on a year around <br />basis. This activity should not sigrlificantiy impact these <br />species during the summer and fall although there is a lot of <br />deer and elk that migrate through thla area in the fall. However, <br />quite a few deer and several hundred elk depend on this area for <br />winter forage, The large Conservation Reserve Yruyram (cR8) <br />fields in this area are especially important to the elk. <br />The amount of impact will depend on the severlt~+ of the winter <br />and the amount of disturbance. If a small portion of the groject <br />area is worked at a time there should be minimal impaat, lwt it <br />the operation covers a large amount of the area the impaat could <br />be considerable. It could not only displace deer and e13c lnl:v <br />less desirable habitat but could also increase the amount of game <br />damage for which the Dow may be liable. <br />The Yampa River corridor is used by many raptors Yor nesting <br />activity. The most significant of which is an active bald eagle <br />nest. The River corridor is also used by a number of wintering <br />tfald.eagles, it is recommended that the exploration activity <br />allow a 1/4 mile buffer sons along the Yaripa River anu all raptor <br />ne~+t,s during the winter and s»ring months. <br />A significant number of ducks and geese also nest and raise young <br />on this section of the river. 7- few 5andhill Cranes, a state <br />listed threatened species, stage and nest in the Yampa River <br />carrfdor. The 1/4 mile buffer should give them adequate <br />protection during the nesting season. <br />CC: Dan Prenzlow <br />