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• On the Seneca II-W permit area, elevations range from 7000 to over 7,700 feet ASL. The <br />terrain is highest on the east side of the permit area. Much of the area slopes down to the west <br />toward Hubberson Gulch; the north part of the azea slopes northwest towazd Dry Creek. Mining <br />activity is largely confined to the southern two-thirds of the permit azea. <br />Mountain brush and sagebrush are the two most common native habitats on the permit <br />area. A few aspen stands occur on the area, primarily on the east side. Bottomland is very <br />limited on the permit area. <br />BIG GAME <br />Big game--elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)--were counted <br />during an aerial survey completed on 30 January 1997. 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-mil 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 10:52h completed in the west at 16:SOh. <br />Two PRES biologists were in the helicopter with the pilot. The locations of all big game, <br />mammalian predators, and raptors sighted during the survey were plotted on 1:24000 topographic <br />maps. Habitat was also recorded for each sighting. <br />GOLDEN EAGLE NEST MONITORING <br />On 20 April, known golden eagle nests on or within one mile of the permit area were <br />checked for activity. A biologist observed the nests through a spotting scope from a vehicle <br />parked at a vantage point. Nests were watched until their status (active, inactive, alternate, etc.) <br />could be determined. <br />\J <br />1997 Seneca II-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 2 <br />