2010-05-07_PERMIT FILE - C2009087 (18)

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Sage Creek Mine February 2009 • detected during lek counts, annual weather events and the previous year's conditions are important factors in the fluctuations observed in sharp - tailed grouse population numbers. In years following drought, lower numbers of males per lek are generally observed. Conversely, an increased number of males per lek generally occurs after average to above average precipitation amounts in the previous spring and summer (when reproductive output and brood survival are maximized). Ten sharp - tailed grouse leks (Seneca 1 -4, Yoast Mine Road, Trousdale and the satellite lek location, Fifer, and Annan's Twentymile 1 -3) have been identified on or within 1.0 mile of the Sage Creek Mine study area (Table 1). All 10 leks have been surveyed since 1996 as part of either the Seneca II Mine or Yoast Mine wildlife monitoring programs. Four of the leks are located within the reclaimed grasslands associated with the Seneca II Mine, and five additional leks (including the Trousdale and Trousdale satellite lek locations) exist within the CRP lands adjacent to the Yoast Mine. The remaining lek is located in a sparse shrubland (primarily sagebrush) habitat. The total number of combined male sharp - tailed grouse observed displaying at the leks within Sage Creek Mine survey area between 1996 and 2000 increased steadily with a high -count of 113 males in • 2000. The total number of all combined displaying males at the known leks remained relatively steady from 2004 through 2007, averaging 92 displaying males per year. In 2008, the number of displaying males was below the previous four year average with 75 combined males documented, but comparable to 2006 when only 73 males were recorded. The low count in 2008 was likely attributed to the deep snow cover and drifted snow banks that remained throughout much of the area in early spring. In particular, the lek locations in the CRP habitat were relatively devoid of any vertical vegetative cover and the grouse were widely scattered throughout the area when documented. No new leks were discovered on or within 1.0 mile of the Sage Creek Mine survey area in 2008. The Seneca 1 lek was active for the fourteenth consecutive year in 2008. A total of four male grouse were observed near the lek when the site was visited on April 28. The peak number of males attending the lek increased slightly each year from 1997 through 1999, and then more substantially in 2000 and 2001. Grouse numbers at the lek were relatively stable from 2002 to 2004, but have steadily declined annually with 2008 being the lowest total count recorded since observations began. • 13