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Due to past and current land management practices, geomorphology, and landscape setting of the <br />site, current diversity and density of significant wildlife is very low compared to the surrounding <br />region. Possible reasons include previous mining in portions of the affected area as well as long- <br />term dry conditions regionally. <br />CONCLUSIONS <br />Game Resources. <br />Pronghorn have historically crossed the entire area and are commonly observed in hay fields <br />along Kannah Creek. Vegetative condition and harshness of the Bradbury Gravel Pit limits the <br />value of the immediate vicinity for pronghorn other than for crossing to and from desirable <br />habitats. Mule deer use is nearly non-existent with the current condition of the site. Light mule <br />deer use could be expected if vegetation condition improved. Availability of this site to mule <br />deer is incidental to mule deer population stability in this mule deer herd. <br />Non-Game Resources. <br />Bradbury Gravel Pit construction and operation is not likely to disturb raptors with zero nests or <br />suitable nesting habitat in the immediate vicinity or within the Bradbury Gravel Pit site. Trees <br />and canyon walls are plentiful and far more suitable one or more miles distant from the site. <br />Fauna dependent on diverse vegetative structure and patches of shrubs currently have poor <br />habitat under present conditions. The potential presence of wildlife species in other vegetation <br />types adjacent or near the Bradbury Gravel Pit is far greater than the affected area. <br />Fisheries are not a concern from Bradbury Gravel Pit site location as previously mentioned. <br />Issues related to fisheries conservation are not a concern with implementation of sound <br />stormwater and erosion control practices. <br />Herpetiles potentially in the area rely on higher quality habitat with greater diversity in the <br />vegetation component including structure of their habitat. Current conditions of the affected area <br />are not favorable for herpetiles expected to be present in unaffected habitat. Mining will likely <br />affect small amount of herpetile habitat. Post-mining could create better conditions than <br />currently found. <br />REFERENCES <br />Andrews, Robert, and Robert Righter. 1992. Colorado birds: A reference to their distribution <br />and habitat. Denver Museum of Natural History, Colorado, 442 pp. <br />CDOW. 1999. Wildlife species occurrence. Colorado Division of Wildlife. <br />http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu.