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serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). Trembling aspen (Popzelus tremuloides) stands are • <br />scattered throughout the area, but mainly occur along the upper reaches of drainages. Isolated <br />stands of fir (Abies spp.) aze found at the highest elevations. Rolling rangeland and agricultural <br />fields exist in the north-central, extreme northwest, and southeast portions of the area. <br />Bottomland habitat occurs along major creeks (Grassy Creek, Sage Creek, Dry Creek) and their <br />larger tributary draws. <br />On the Seneca II-W permit area, elevations range from 7,000 to over 7,700 feet ASL. <br />The terrain is highest on the east side of the permit area. Much of the azea slopes down to the <br />west towazd Hubberson Gulch; the north part of the azea slopes northwest towazd Dry Creek. <br />Mountain brush and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentnta) are the two most common native <br />habitats on the permit area. A few aspen stands also exist, primarily on the east portion. <br />Bottomland is very limited on the permit area. <br />BIG GAME • <br />One aerial survey for big game, primarily elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer <br />(Odocoileus hemionus), was conducted on 3 February 2005. The 89.5 miZ survey area was <br />searched from a helicopter (Be1147; Olathe Spray Service, Olathe, CO) by systematically flying <br />all drainages and adjoining slopes in the area. The sttrvey was started in the northeast region of <br />the survey area at 0810 h and completed in the west at 1515 h. <br />1'wo TWC biologists and the helicopter pilot looked for big game and other wildlife <br />during the survey. The locations of all animal sightings (including big game, mammalian <br />predators, and grouse) were plotted on 1:24,000 topographic maps. Habitat associations were <br />also recorded for each observation. <br />UPLAND GAME BIRDS <br />In 2002, a Columbian sharp-tailed grouse lek (Seneca II-W lek) was found on a grassy <br />knoll just south of the Seneca II-W haul road in NW'/.~ SE'/< Section 22, TSN, R88W. Grouse <br />had been observed at the site since 1998 but female attendance was only positively identified in <br />2002. In 2004, TWC personnel observed three displaying males and one female at a new lek - <br />2005 Seneca R-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 2 <br />