Laserfiche WebLink
• Elevations at Yoast range from 6,800 to over 7,900 feet ASL. Terrain vazies from <br />rolling rangeland and agricultural fields at the north edge to high ridges and steep slopes in the <br />central and south parts of the permit area. Most of the area's drainage enters Grassy Creek, <br />which runs along the southeast side of the permit area. A small part of the area drains to Sage <br />Creek, which borders the southwest side of the permit area. Mining at Yoast was started in <br />1996. To date, activity has been limited to the north-central part of the permit area. <br />Mountain brush is the most prevalent habitat on the permit area. Sagebrush habitat <br />occurs as scattered patches on high flats and ridge tops. There area aspen stands in moist <br />areas along wide drainage bottoms or on north- and east-facing slopes. Bottomland is limited <br />to narrow bands along lazger drainages and around stockponds. Improved pasture and <br />agricultural fields are found along the haul road corridor. <br />I~:T>inn~ <br />BIG GAME <br />• Big game--elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)--were counted <br />during an aerial survey completed on 24 January 1998. The survey was coordinated with <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) personnel and coincided with CDOW's schedule for <br />surveying big game in the region. The same helicopter and pilot (High Country Helicopters, <br />Montrose, CO) used by state biologists were used during the survey. The 89.5-min expanded <br />survey area was searched by systematically following each drainage and thoroughly covering <br />adjacent slopes before moving to the next drainage. The survey was started on the east side of <br />the area at 10:38h completed in the west at 15:48h. <br />Two PRES biologists were in the helicopter with the pilot. The locations of all big <br />game, mammalian predators, and raptors sighted during the survey were plotted on 1:24000 <br />topographic maps. Habitat was also recorded for each sighting. <br />UPLAND GAME BQtDS <br />Three sharp-tailed grouse leks were discovered in the Yoast area during baseline <br />studies. The leks were designated STG-1 (in SE'/4 SE'/< Section 5, TSN, R87W), STG-2 (in <br />• NE'/< SE'/, Section 9, TSN, R87W), and STG-3 (in SE'/a NW'/. Section 9, TSN, R87W). In <br />1998 Yoast Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 2 <br />