Laserfiche WebLink
of the petmiC area. More recent aerial flights have confirmed this pattern (see Tab I1). Browse • <br />utilization measurements indicated high use on only one transect (browse utilization Transect <br />B-1), but on none of the transects was utilization excessive. Elk calving is likely to occur in <br />area aspen stands; particularly in larger aspen stands off the permit area to the south. Elk <br />calving was not observed on the permit axes during wildlife investigations. <br />Mule deer are expected to be more common on the permit area throughout the year. However, <br />aerial censusing during the winter of 1979 indicated a lack of mule deer present on the permit <br />area, but this amounted to only two different observation periods. More recent aerial <br />censusing appears to conFirm that winter use by mule deer continues to be light. Strip <br />censusing during the summer months and observations by Peabody personnel indicate that <br />mule deer aze fairly common on the permit azea during the spring, summer, and fall. <br />Upland game birds were not common on the permit azea, with only blue grouse being sighted. <br />Sharp-tailed grouse and sage grouse were not found on the site even though their general <br />habitats aze present on the site. <br />Raptors, on the other hand, aze fairly common over the area, with golden eagles being of most • <br />interest. An active golden eagle nest is present in sandstone bluffs above Hubbexson Gulch to <br />the west of the permit area (see Exhibit 1]-3, Wildlife Survey, Tab 1]). As is the case with <br />several other active nests ^eaz the Seneca II Mine, this nest will not be disturbed by mining <br />activities. <br />Thus, the Seneca II-W permit azea provides a variety of habitat For many wildlife species <br />common to northwestern Colorado. Studies and observations indicate that utilization of the <br />area by big game and upland game birds is not at high levels, bvt this may be due in part to the <br />availability of more desirable habitat around the permit area. Big game use appeazs to be as <br />high during periods of herbaceous production as in any other time. Exhibit 10-1 illustrates the <br />continuum of available vegetation communities and habitat types from the permit area <br />distuzbance boundary to one-half mile out from this boundary. <br />Postmining Land Use <br />The revegetation plan detailed in the following pages has been carefully developed to achieve • <br />the postmining land use of livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. It will also aid in landform <br />stability and mitigate impacts to vegetation resources. Furthermore, this plan is designed to <br />4 <br />