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the highest elevations. Rolling rangeland and agricultural fields are in the north-central, <br />• extreme northwest, and southeast portions of the area. Bottomland habitat occurs along major <br />creeks--Grassy Creek, Sage Creek, Dry Creek--and their larger tributary draws. <br />On the Seneca II permit area, elevations range from 6,750 to over 8,100 feet ASL. The <br />terrain steadily slopes upward from west to east across the permit area; steep slopes occur <br />along two drainages in the north-central and southeast corner of the permit area. Mining and <br />rec]amation activity is largely confined to the central portion of the area. <br />Mountain brush is the predominant native habitat on the permit area. Sagebrush habitat <br />occurs primarily in the southwest part of the permit area. There are a few aspen stands on the <br />area, but they are limited to north- and east-facing draws at upper elevations. Bottomland is <br />limited to narrow bands along Larger drainages. Reclaimed areas are dominated by grassland <br />with some shrub-grassland. <br />MF.THniIC <br />BIG GAME <br />• One aerial survey for big game, primarily elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer <br />(Odocoileus hemioftus), was conducted on 16 February 2000. The 89.5 mi= 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 />UPLAND GAME BIRDS <br />A Columbian sharp-tailed grouse lek (Seneca rYl) was discovered in reclamation at the <br />Seneca I] Mine in 1995 by mine personnel {R. Karo, pers. comm.). A second lek in <br />reclamation, Seneca /t2, was found in 1998. The two leks are approximately 1.5 miles apart <br />• on the mine permit area (Exhibit 1). <br />2000 Seneca II Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 2 <br />