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"Range conditions have always been good in Coal Basin, <br /> except for areas of high natural erosion, and some <br /> small over-grazed areas dating to the early 1940 ' s . <br /> Corrective management has improved range conditions <br /> since 1945 , and present stocking levels are one-fourth <br /> lower than at that time . With management , range quality <br /> should improve in the future, but as a result of natural <br /> succession grasslands in Coal Basin are very slowly <br /> converting to aspen and conifer forests , therefore <br /> reducing the quantity of grassland range . " <br /> Source : U . S . Forest Service <br /> "Past and Present Condition <br /> of Range and Wildlife <br /> Resources in Coal Basin . " <br /> 4 . Aquatic life - Permit and adjacent areas <br /> a . Habitat <br /> Coal Basin, including the permit and adjacent <br /> areas , is drained by Coal Creek and its tributaries (See <br /> Figure III-I-1) . The tributaries are Dutch, Bear and <br /> Porcupine Creeks . Dutch and Coal Creeks drain areas of <br /> surface disturbance . Porcupine and Bear Creeks drain areas <br /> which are undisturbed . <br /> Porcupine Creek drains land units classified , <br /> in the Thompson Creek Land Use Plan as Ecological Land Units <br /> #1 and #2 , both of which have characteristically high water <br /> quality, with mountain sideslopes in the range of 16-40% and <br /> moderate erosion hazard . The water quality of Porcupine <br /> Creek is , consequently, the 'highest in the Coal Basin . <br /> Dutch Creek drains areas classified as ELUs <br /> #4 and #8 , which are characterized by steep slopes and high <br /> erosion hazard . <br /> Bear Creek drains areas classified as ELUs <br /> r{ 2, #3 and #4 . Slopes in these ELUs range from 15-40% or <br /> steeper , and erosion hazards range from moderate to high . <br /> -16- <br />