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INTporucaaw <br />Wildlife baseline studies were initiated in May, 1979 at Peabody Coal <br />Company's Lucia Mine located 3 miles northwest of Nucla, Montrose <br />County, Colorado. The study area encompassed approximately 106 acres <br />at an elevation of 5700 ft. The objectives of the study included: <br />1. Comprehensive site - specific analysis of all terrestrial communities <br />(i.e., major vegetation types) represented at the Nucla Mine with <br />respect to vertebrate species composition, habitat affinities, <br />abufdance, and diversity. <br />2. Identification and evaluation of habitat critical to the support of <br />important wildlife species (i.e., "threatened" or "endangered" species <br />or other vertebrates protected by state or federal law and certain <br />game animals) and habitat offering both environmental and vegetative <br />situations which contribute to maximum wildlife diversity for the <br />region. <br />3. Provision of a wildlife data base appropriate to identifying <br />potential impacts on wildlife from mine development and expansion, <br />.developing meaningful and cost-effective mitigation measures for <br />significant impacts, and defining a long -term monitoring program for <br />evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation measures and detecting <br />unforeseen impacts. <br />Included in this one -y.u program were field investigation of mammalian <br />predators, small mammals, passerine, game and raptorial birds, and big <br />game species. The project site's importance to sport hunters was also <br />evaluated. <br />This report defines all methodology employed during the course of the <br />study. Results are summarized in tabular form and discussed within the <br />JUN 1 1. 1980 <br />