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• TWC has surveyed the expanded area eight tirnes: December 1994, each January from <br />1995 through 1998, and each February from 1999 through 2001. The very low density recorded <br />during the December 1994 survey (Figure 1) was probably due to poor ground conditions (patchy <br />snow cover) and the use of a fixed-wing aircraft for the survey. Both of those factors affected the <br />observers' ability to detect animals and resulted in under counting. Considerably more elk were <br />observed a month later, January 1995, when the area was surveyed from a helicopter. Observed <br />elk density in January 1996 was substantially higher than the densities recorded during previous <br />surveys. Snowfall from the onset of winter through January 1996 was considerably greater than <br />in other years. Excessive snow probably pushed more animals out of the higher elevations of the <br />Williams Fork Mountains and north into the survey area in January 1996. Both snowpack and <br />elk density were relatively low during surveys in 1997, 1999, 2000. Although snow fall was also <br />minimal during winter 1997-1998, the density of elk in the area during January 1998 was the <br />second highest ever observed. Despite the abundance of snow on the ground during the 2001. . <br />survey, elk density in the expanded area was similaz to that observed in the previous year. <br />Herds were widely distributed over the expanded area during each of the eight surveys. <br />• However, herds were always conspicuously absent from the agricultural fields and grasslands in <br />the northwest, north-central, and southeast parts of the area. Because there are no tall grasses or <br />shrubs in those habitats, the vegetation is typically covered by snow in winter. Consequently, <br />there is little readily available winter forage for big game in those portions of the survey area. <br />Seneca II-W Mine and Perimeter <br />Wildlife observations made on the 35 miZ area that includes the Seneca II-W Mine permit <br />area and its one-mile perimeter are listed in Appendix I. Big game observations are illustrated on <br />Exhibit 1. Fifty-six groups of elk (351 animals) were recorded within that area. Eleven herds <br />(99 animals) were on the permit area and 45 herds (252 animals) were in the perimeter. Elk <br />density in the Seneca II-W area averaged 10 animalshni2; 35% higher than on the expanded <br />survey area. Other animals recorded in the Seneca II-W area included one coyote and a herd of <br />five mule deer. <br />Ninety percent of the elk observed in the Seneca II-W area in 2001 were in mountain <br />. brush habitat (Appendix I). The remaining ten percent were evenly distributed between <br />2001 Seneca II Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 4 <br />