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Seneca II-W Mioe and Perimeter <br />• Observations made on the 35 miZ area that includes the Seneca II-W Mine permit area <br />and its perimeter are listed in Table 1; big game observations are illustrated on Exhibit 1. <br />Twenty-two groups of elk (372 animals) were recorded within that area; none of the herds <br />were on the permit area. Elk density in the Seneca II-W area was 10.6 animals/mil; 28 <br />higher than on the expanded survey area. Other animals observed in the vicinity of <br />Seneca 11-W during the aerial survey included five mule deer (one herd), three bobcats, two <br />golden eagles, one bald eagle, and one coyote. <br />All of the elk seen in the Seneca II-W azea, except one herd of seven animals, were in <br />mountain brush habitat (Table 1). As in the expanded area, most elk seen in the Seneca II-W <br />area during each survey since 1994 were in mountain brush. <br />Elk density in the vicinity of Seneca II-W was lower than the density recorded in the <br />expanded area during most surveys completed since 1994 (Figure 1). A large proportion of <br />the Seneca II-W survey area is situated south of the permit area in the higher elevations of the <br />Williams Fork Mountains. Elevations in that area range from about 7,500 to 8,500 feet ASL. <br />Mountain brush habitats in the northern part of the survey area, where more elk are usually <br />observed, are generally less than 7,500 feet ASL. The low density of elk in the southern <br />portion of the survey area usually dilutes the overall density in the Seneca II-W area. In 1997 <br />and 2000, elk density in the Seneca II-W area exceeded that in the expanded area. Even in <br />those years, elk were sparse in the southern portion of the Seneca II-W area; the disparity was <br />explained by increased density in the north. <br />UPLAND GAME BIRDS <br />In 1998, a potential sharp-tailed grouse lek was found on a grassy knoll just south of <br />[he Seneca II-W haul road in NW'/a SE'/a Section 22, TSN, R87W. Topography and <br />vegetation prevent remote observation of that site, thus restricting observers to flush counts. <br />Four and three grouse were flushed from the site in 1998 and 1999, respectively. <br />On 26 April 2000, a juvenile golden eagle disrupted activities at the Section 22 site <br />before a flush count could be tnade. Shortly after the eagle incident, biologists flushed five <br />• grouse in the vicinity. A late morning Flush count on 27 April revealed only two grouse. <br />2000 Seneca II-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 6 <br />