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• INTRODUCTION <br />Wildlife baseline studies were completed at the Yoast Mine site in 1993. in both 1994 and <br />1995, an aerial winter survey for big game was conducted. In 1996, Seneca Coal Company <br />contracted Powder River Eagle Studies Inc. (PRES) to conduct a variety of wildlife monitoring <br />tasks at Yoast including surveys for big game, raptor nests, sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus <br />phariarsellus), sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis), and loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludoviclarsus). <br />Presented below are descriptions of the study area, survey methods, and results. <br />Questions or comments concerning the information contained in this report should be <br />directed to the attention of Mr. Roy Karo, Environmental Coordinator, Seneca Coal Company, <br />Drawer D, Hayden, CO 81639, telephone (970) 276-3707. <br />STUDY AREA <br />The Yoast property is approximately 8 miles southeast of Hayden, Routt County, <br />Colorado; the mine permit area is about 3.25 mil. In 1993, the big game survey area included <br />• the permit area and its 1-mile perimeter, and a 3/a-mile buffer on either side of the haul road <br />corridor (approximately 21.4 min). In 1994, the survey area was expanded to gather additional <br />data. The expanded survey area totaled approximately 84.5 miz and extended from the Seneca <br />II Mine on the east to the Seneca II-W Mine on the west; the Yoast Mine site lies between those <br />two operating mines. That same area was surveyed in 1995. In 1996, an additional one-mile strip <br />was surveyed along the northwest edge of the area; thus, enlarging the big game survey area to <br />approximately 89.5 mil (Exhibit 1). Surveys for game bird leks, raptor nests, and sandhill crane <br />use areas were limited to the Yoast permit area and its 1-mile perimeter; shrike surveys were <br />conducted on the permit area only. <br />The big game survey area is in the brushy foothills of the Williams Fork Mountains, south <br />of the Yampa River. Elevations over the area range from 6100 feet in the north to over 8300 feet <br />ASL in the south. Steep slopes and high ridges covered with mountain brush characterize the <br />topography and vegetation of the expanded area. Aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands are scattered <br />throughout the area, but mainly occur along the upper reaches of drainages. Isolated stands of <br />fir are found at the highest elevations. Rolling rangeland and agricultural fields are in the north- <br />1996 Yoast Mine Site Wildlife Monitoring Page 1 <br />