2010-10-18_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981010

Home Browse Search

within the mine plan area. This dancing ground has been destroyed by past mining activities. Mining activities will cause a temporary loss of habitat for the sharp-tailed grouse. We anticipate that birds and their offspring will survive attrition of habitat caused by mining by emigration to suitable, undisturbed areas, east and south of the mine plan area. Rapid restoration of native plant species emphasizing the establishment of intermittent colonies of shrubs interspersed with sagegrass habitat will allow resident birds to reestablish pre-mining populations within the mine plan area. Blue Grouse: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1978) indicated there is blue grouse (Den- dragapus obscurus) habitat in the southeast portion of the proposed mine plan area (Map M24). One sighting was made of this species in 1979. No other data are available on occurrence of blue grouse within the proposed mine plan area. As the proposed mine plan area is located on the extreme western edge of the blue grouse range in the Williams Fork Mountains, the population density is expected to be low. Because of this low periphery population level, mining is expected to have little or no effect on the population of this species. Mourning Dove: The mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura) is a known nester throughout the region and uses the proposed mine plan area during the summer months. The mountain shrub community, the most common vegetation type on the mine plan area, does not provide optimum dove nesting habitat as mourning doves prefer weedy areas, close to grain fields near water. Mining is expected to have little effect on the mourning dove population. The revegetation practices proposed for the mine plan area could in effect increase the dove population due to stubblemulch practices and the transplant- ing of mature shrubs on reseeded areas. 2-162