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Climate <br />Annual precipitation at the mine is approximately 22 inches, with upland areas receiving up to 35 <br />inches. Approximately 65 percent of the annual precipitation occurs as snowfall. <br />Vegetation <br />Five vegetation types characterize the mine site: riparian woodland, mountain shrubland - dry <br />and moist phase, aspen forest, and spruce-fir forest. Riparian woodland is prevalent along the <br />Thompson Creek stream banks and its tributaries adjacent to the mine area. <br />The loadout vegetation communities are primarily introduced species for grazing and haying <br />purposes. However, pinon juniper woodland, riparian woodland, big sagebrush shrubland, and <br />rabbitbrush shrubland are also found in and adjacent to the loadout site. <br />Soils <br />Topsoil in the Thompson Creek drainage is limited. Only a thin veneer of topsoil exists on the <br />steep sideslopes of the ridges. Furthermore, much of the topsoil at the mine facility area was lost <br />through historic mining disturbances. The loadout site was built on a wide valley floor where <br />topsoil was approximately 12 inches deep or less. Because the loadout was more recently <br />constructed, all available topsoil was salvaged. <br />Wildlife <br />Mine Area <br />The predominant types of wildlife inhabiting the mine site are elk, deer,.coyote, grouse, beaver, <br />and rainbow and cutthroat trout. Mountain lion, bobcat, and turkey are also found in the area. <br />Approximately 200 elk inhabit Stony Ridge, while only about 50 elk inhabit Marion Ridge. The <br />Marion Ridge elk migrate into Stony Ridge during the winter. Deer locate primarily on the lower <br />grassland during the winter, later moving to a summer range above the mine. <br />There are about ten beaver dams in a quarter-mile area immediately downstream from the mine. <br />Beaver have been introduced into the area by the company and are active in the spring and <br />summer. Grouse are found on Stony Ridge and on other north-facing slopes. <br />Rainbow and cutthroat trout are abundant and reproduce downstream from the mine, while <br />rainbow trout live upstream as well. <br />No endangered species are known to be present in the mining area, nor is there any critical <br />wildlife habitat or high value habitat. <br />North Thompson Creek C-1981-025 <br />Permit Renewal 05 <br />12 May 2009 <br />7