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cover in other areas. In general, snowfall was lower than average for the area during winter <br />2004-2005. Visibility during the survey was rated as good. <br />Expanded Survey Area <br />All wildlife observations from the aerial"survey are listed in Appendix I. Big game <br />observations are also illustrated on Exhibit 1. A total of 967 elk (10.8/mil) in 84 herds were seen <br />during the survey (Figure 1). Twenty mule deer herds (138 animals) were also observed. <br />Elk herd size varied from 1 to 80 animals, and averaged 11.5 individuals. Elk were <br />widely distributed throughout the area, but were notably absent from the north central, southeast, <br />and extreme northwest portions of the expanded area (Exhibit 1). The predominant habitat types <br />in those portions of the survey area were agricultural fields, reclamation, and level grasslands. <br />Figure 1. Elk density on the expanded and Seneca II Mine areas during winter aerial <br />surveys from 1994 through 2005. <br />30 <br />25 <br />7 20 <br />d <br />L <br />~ 15 <br />O" <br />t~ <br />W 10 <br />5 <br />0 <br />1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 <br />Year <br />Expanded survey area: 84.5 mil (1994-1995), 89.5 mil (1996-2005). <br />Seneca li survey area: 17.5 mil (1994-2005). <br /> <br />• <br />• <br />2005 Seneca II Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 4 <br />