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Summary and Conclusions <br /> Data and background information for this report were obtained <br /> from a personal two-day inspection of the Allen and Maxwell Mine sites, <br /> review of pertinent studies and literature, and numerous discussions <br /> with knowledgeable persons. Although I was assisted in interpreting <br /> data from studies outside my area of expertise, particularly data <br /> related to water quality and fishery biology, conclusions are my own. <br /> It is obvious that surface developments of a mining operation <br /> reduces food, cover and space available for wildlife by the pre-emption <br /> of space. It is also likely that noise and man' s activities may <br /> affect wintering big game and upset breeding behavior of small mammals <br /> and birds. However, most of these effects should be small and local . <br /> No reductions in big game, game birds, raptors or endangered species <br /> populations as a direct consequence of the Allen or Maxwell Mines <br /> has been reported, to my knowledge. <br /> It is equally obvious that a decrease in water quality carries <br /> with it the potential for adversely affecting fish populations. <br /> There is evidence from creel checks that a change in fish species <br /> composition occurs in the stretch between Stonewall and the Maxwell <br /> Mine area. Observational information indicates that the only fish <br /> species present in this stretch of the Purqatoire River are Brown <br /> Trout, Rainbow Trout and White Suckers. Holder (pees. comm. 1980) <br /> estimates that 950/0 of the fish he checks in fishermen' s creels in <br /> the vicinity of Stonewall are Brown Trout, the rest are Rainbow Trout. <br /> The farthest upstream that he has seen, Suckers are in the River <br />