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• herbaceous component. They also found that sagebrush stands have a strong competitive edge <br />once herbaceous competttion is reduced. <br />Based on personal observations, discussions with SCS range conservationists from the Craig <br />and Steamboat Springs offices, the State SCS range conservationist in Denver, and plant <br />ecologists from area mines, the somewhat degraded plant community chazacteristics for the <br />mixed brush and sagebrush types found on the Seneca II-W Mine are common in northwestern <br />Colorado. <br />Stock watering facilities (also benefiting wildlife} are limited to the development of four stock <br />ponds on the permit azea. These ponds are generally in a rather poor state of repair and have <br />low storage capacity due to stream channel headcutting into the emergency spillways, livestock <br />trampling with subsequent erosion of the dam structures, and siltation of the storage azea. <br />'T'hese ponds tend to dry up later in the summer. The locations of these ponds have not <br />encouraged even grazing distribution over the permit azea, particularly in the eastern portion. <br />The only other sources of stock water are periodic flows from the ephemeral streams occurring <br />on the permit area (see Tab 16 for more detailed discussions of permit azea water resources). <br />• Wildlife Habitat and Utilization of Native Rangeland The Seneca II-W and II-W South permit <br />boundary encompasses an area that is utilized by a variety of wildlife species. The three <br />primary vegetation types present (sagebmsh, mixed brush, aspen) provide food and cover <br />habitat for many of the wildlife species year-round. Of particular interest is the use of the area <br />by big game, upland game birds, and raptors. The Colorado Division of Wi1dliFe (CDOW) has <br />identified the general vicinity of the permit azea as a production azea and critical winter range <br />for mule deer as weII as winter range for elk. The area has also been designated as general <br />distribution azeas for sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse. Raptors, including golden eagles, are <br />also present in the area. The CDOW is at this time updating and improving the various habitat <br />maps coveting the Seneca II-W permit area and Routt County. <br />Wildlife studies and observations for the Seneca II-W permit area aze detailed in Tab 11, <br />Wildlife Survey. As expected, occurrences of small mammals, passerine birds, reptiles and <br />most raptors ate common and not necessarily unique to the area. <br />. Elk use in the azea is expected to be greatest during the winter months and in the spring during <br />green-up of herbaceous species. Aerial censuring in the winter months of 1979 did not indicate <br />the presence of elk on the permit area, but sightings were common to the east, north, and west <br />3 <br />Revised 1/99 <br />