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• The mountain brush community was dominated by Gambel's oak (Quercus gambelii) and <br />serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands were <br />scattered throughout the area, but mainly occurred along the upper reaches of drainages. Isolated <br />stands of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) were found at the highest elevations. Rolling <br />rangeland and agricultural fields were present in the north-central, extreme northwest, and <br />southeast portions of the area. Bottomland habitat occurred along major creeks (Grassy Creek, <br />Sage Creek, Dry Creek) and their larger tributary draws. <br />On the Seneca II-W permit area, elevations ranged from 7,000 to over 7,700 feet ASL. <br />The terrain was highest on the east side of the permit area. Much of the area sloped down to the <br />west toward Hubberson Gulch; the north part of the area sloped northwest toward Dry Creek. <br />Mountain brush and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) were the two most common native <br />habitats throughout most of the undisturbed portions of the permit area. A few small aspen <br />stands were present, primarily on the east portion of the area. Bottomland was very limited. <br />METHODS <br />BIG GAME <br />One aerial survey for big game, primarily elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer <br />(Odocoileus hemionus), was conducted on 18 February 2007. The 89.5 mil survey area was <br />searched from a helicopter (Bell 47; Olathe Spray Service, Olathe, CO) by systematically flying <br />all drainages and adjoining slopes in the area. The survey was started in the northeast region of <br />the survey area at 0840 h and completed in the west at 1440 h. <br />Two J&S biologists and the pilot searched for big game and other wildlife during the <br />survey. The locations of all relevant sightings (including big game, mammalian predators, and <br />grouse) were plotted on 1:24,000 topographic maps. Habitat associations were also recorded for <br />each observation. <br />UPLAND GAME BIRDS <br />In 2002, a Columbian sharp-tailed grouse lek (Seneca II-W lek) was discovered on a <br />grassy knoll just south of the Seneca II-W haul road in NW SE Section 22, TSN, R88W. Grouse <br />• had been observed at the site since 1998 but female attendance was only positively identified in <br />2007 Seneca II-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page ~ <br />