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• occur along the upper reaches of drainages. Isolated stands of fir (Abies spp.) are found at the <br />highest elevations. Rolling rangeland and agricultural fields are in the north-central, extreme <br />northwest, and southeast portions of the area. Bottomland habitat occurs along major creeks-- <br />Grassy Creek, Sage Creek, Dry Creek--and their larger tributary draws. <br />Elevations at Yoast range from 6,800 to over 7,900 feet ASL. Terrain varies from <br />rolling rangeland and agricultural fields in the north, to high ridges and steep slopes in the <br />central and south parts of the permit area. Most of the area is drained by Grassy Creek, which <br />runs along the southeast side of the permit area. A small part of the area drains to Sage Creek, <br />which borders the southwest side of the permit area. Mining at Yoast began in 1996. To date, <br />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 areas <br />along wide drainage bottoms, and on north- and east-facing slopes. Bottomland is limited to <br />narrow bands along larger drainages and around stock reservoirs. Improved pasture and <br />• agricultural fields are found along the haul road corridor. <br />BIG GAME <br />One aerial survey for big game, primarily elk (Cervtes elaphus) and mule deer <br />(Odocoi[eus hemionus), was conducted on 16 February 2000. The 89.5 miZ survey area was <br />searched from a helicopter (Hughes 500; Western Slope Helicopters, Montrose, CO) by <br />systematically flying each drainage and adjoining slopes in the area. The survey was started on <br />the east side of the area at 0945 h and completed in the west at 1350 h. <br />One PRES biologist 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, raptors, and grouse) were plotted on 1:24,000 topographic maps. Habitat <br />associations were also recorded for each sighting. <br />• <br />2000 Y'oast Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 2 <br />