2012-01-06_PERMIT FILE - C1982057A (2)

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Methods All aspects of the wildlife baseline study were conducted by qualified biologists with over 15 • years of experience in wildlife inventory and impact assessment. A list of potential vertebrate species was developed from range and habitat information available in the literature. Sources included: Andrews and Righter 119921, Burt and Grossenheider 11976), Clark and Stromberg (19871, Fitzgerald et al. 119941, Stebbins 119851, U. S. Forest Service 119721, and Zeveloff and Collett (19881. Baseline studies conducted on nearby mine properties (Seneca II-W, Yoast, and Seneca III were also reviewed when compiling potential species lists. During fieldwork, biologists continually maintained a list of species actually observed on or adjacent to the extension area. Standard field guides were used to identify animals. Big Game CDOW agreed that existing data from Seneca II-W Mina's winter big game monitoring program could be summarized to provide big game information for the extension area. Helicopter surveys were conducted by PRES for the Seneca II-W Mine in 1993, 1995, 1998, and 1997. Surveys took place in late January, coinciding with CDOW's schedule for surveying big game in the region. The same helicopter and pilots used by State personnel were employed by PRES for the monitoring surveys. During each survey, two PRES biologists accompanied the pilot. One biologist served as the primary spotter, and the other as the navigator and recorder. The area was surveyed by systematically following each drainage and thoroughly covering adjacent slopes before moving to the next drainage. Surveys started on the east side of the area and progressed to the west. The locations of all big game, mammalian predators, and raptors sighted during the survey were plotted on 1 :24,000 topographic maps. Habitat was also recorded for each sighting. Additional information on big game was obtained from the Seneca II-W Permit Application, and from CDOW's Wildlife Resource Information SYStem (WRIS) maps for elk and mule deer distribution. Ra tors A survey for raptor nests was conducted in October 1997. The survey area included the extension area and aone-half mile perimeter. Aground search was preferable to an aerial survey because nests in trees would not visible from the air until leaves have fallen. PRES's experience elsewhere in the region has shown that many raptors nest in aspen stands. Because the nesting season had concluded, searchers could not key into areas where raptors exhibited defense behavior. Thus, surveys included intensive pedestrian coverage of aspen • 34 Revised 9/98