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ERO Resources <br />The major land use of the sagebrush-wheatgrasa type is as sheep winter <br />• range. This use is predominant on west- and southwest-facing slopes <br />within the type. Sheep congregate in these areas during winter because <br />snow depth is reduced. The areas within this category that are near roads <br />are also more strongly affected than those where access by vehiole is more <br />diffioult. The sheep are fed hay during the winter. The available forage <br />on the site has been severely reduced by past grazing. The term "winter <br />range" is, therefore, somewhat of a misnomer. The site should be <br />considered largely as a wintering area not as a range, which implies use <br />as grazing land. Some grazing undoubtedly occurs, buL Lhis is likely <br />concentrated on use of shrubs and half-shrubs and does not include any <br />substantial use of perennial grasses. This latter life form is noL of <br />particular value as winter forage and is limited in supply, as well. <br />(41 Potential Impacts std Reclamatien (lpnortunitiea. <br />Nitration std Enhancement; <br />The big sagebrush-wheatgrass type on the permit area will be potentially <br />• affected by all phases of mine development. Two major classes of impacts <br />will occur, however. First are those operations related to surface <br />disturbance, such as road construction. These impacts will be moderate, <br />as a result of their limited extent and because much of the alignmerrt that <br />the roadways will follow is currently used for roads. Mitigation of the <br />impacts that will occur due to roadway construction can be minimized by <br />curtailing traffic outside of the right-of-way. Minimization of impacts <br />can also be achieved by planning alignments in a manner that minimizes the <br />use of grassy knolls and swales, and maximizes the use of dense saga <br />areas, annual forb and cheatgrass dominated sites. The second category of <br />impacts are those involving clearing of vegetation and stripping of <br />topsoil, such as the waste disposal area aril mine portal facilities. <br />These activities will remove substantial areas and necessitate their <br />revegetation, Successful reclamation of these areas could bring <br />considerable improvement in the condition of the now-depleted range. <br />Proper control of future grazing must be accounted for, however, if the <br />rehabilitated areas are to be perpetuated in good condition. <br />• <br />II.F-39 <br />