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• reclaimed vegetation success since no definitive use trends are shown based on the survey counts and <br />population densities within the Seneca II survey area. Therefore, SCC will cease conducting annual <br />winter big game aerial surveys at the Seneca II Mine, but will continue conducting the annual spring <br />(April) surveys for monitoring Columbian sharp-tailed grouse leks, golden eagle nest activity, and <br />sandhill crane activity. Results of the annual wildlife monitoring will be included in the annual <br />reclamation report. <br />Reduction of Monitoring. As stated above the wildlife monitoring program was reduced in 2007 to <br />eliminate the annual winter big game surveys and now that the reclamation activities are coming to an <br />end, SCC would like to eliminate further wildlife monitoring. <br />SCC is currently monitoring known Columbian sharp-tailed grouse leks and the all known golden <br />eagle nests for activity. During these surveys sandhill crane sightings are also documented. The <br />CDOW has also been monitoring sharp-tailed grouse leks and the overall trends show that sharp- <br />tailed grouse populations are on the increase. With the results of these trends the CDOW has been <br />trapping birds on the Seneca reclamation to further increase populations in other locales. <br />• Ten golden eagle nests at three different sites have been documented within one (1) mile of the <br />Seneca II permit boundary.. Although the three known nesting territories are relatively close <br />together, all have been active during 10 of the past 12 years. The continued occupation of the <br />territories suggests that the eagles have not been substantially affected by activities at the Seneca <br />Mine. Results of the annual surveys are contained in the Annual Reclamations reports submitted <br />every March for the Seneca II Mine. <br />Since there is no active mining or blasting and limited human activities on the reclamation areas, <br />there is no longer any need for wildlife monitoring. Beginning in 2009, SCC will discontinue wildlife <br />monitoring on the Seneca II Mine. <br />U <br />TR-49 14-12a Revised 6/09