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National Park Service Methodologies (Cole, G.P., 1963, Range Survey Chide, • <br />U.S. Department of the Interior) and utilized ten paced transacts approxi- <br />mately SOOm in length. Transact starting points utilized existing production <br />sample points (see Vegetation Baseline Report, Mariah, 1980) and were randanly <br />selected from all production points falling within the preselected areas. The <br />direction of the transact was deterntix~ed using the first cxmpass direction in <br />the order E-W-N-S that xwld ensure that the transact ranained within the <br />mixed brush type. At every two paces along the transact, the browse species <br />nearest to a mark on the observer's toe was determined and its age and form <br />class re~rded according to the criteria presented in Table 1. Criteria pre- <br />sented in Table 2 was used to evaluate browse condition and trend at each <br />transact location. <br />Elk Calving Studies. It was particularly important to determine whether elk <br />calve on areas of Seneca II proposed for mine develognent. Elk calving areas <br />are generally regarded by state wildlife agencies as one of several habitat <br />ccniponents critical to the survival of elk herds. To identify such areas so <br />that proper impact mitigation measures can be implemented was of much impor- • <br />tance in the baseline wildlife study. <br />Elk calving grounds are usually located where escape and thermal cover <br />in the form of forests exist for the cows; where thew is hiding cover in the <br />fwan of shrubs or dead and dawn logs, etc., for relatively immobile newborn <br />calves; where succulent forage is available for the lactating fenale; where <br />water is within 305 m (1,000 ft.); and where the terrain is gentle, allowing <br />easy movement of the cow immediately before and after parturition (Black et al., <br />1976). Naturally, all such areas are not calving grounds; therefore, areas <br />with these characteristics were carefully examined by ground reronnaissance <br />from early to mid-June, 1979,for evidence of heavy use as calving grounds. <br />MANAIALIAN PREDA'InR SURVEY <br />D~anrt~an predators were surveyed during late Septanbes, 1979, by the scent- <br />station visitation technique. This method was selected on the basis of <br />literature review and past successful experience with the technique. <br />-10- <br />Revised 5-27-81 <br />