2013-04-10_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (7)

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RULE 2 PERMITS quality hunting. Hunting success on the ranch has been excellent and is expected to continue. Population numbers and use vary considerably throughout the year depending on factors such as winter snow depth, summer range conditions and hunting pressure on the ranch, as well as surrounding areas. The objective of the ranch has been to manage and create habitat for all resident game species including elk, deer, blue grouse, sharp- tailed grouse and sage grouse, as well as other game and non -game species, while providing quality big game hunting opportunities on a controlled basis to the public. In addition, a priority on the ranch is to provide increased winter habitat for elk and deer. Working with the CDOW, harvest numbers are determined mutually with consideration of DAU objectives for the MCR RFW program. Local conditions on the ranch may allow for population increases on the ranch but overall within the DAU, CDOW's management of both deer and elk herds are to reduce them according to current objective levels. Colowyo's current permit expansion into the Collom area would reduce the MCR's overall area by approximately 7,642 acres to 22,623 acres. The proposed post -mine land use for the Collom permit expansion area will be rangeland condition capable of supporting a diversity of wildlife with targeted areas (based primarily on hydrological stability) for grassland and sagebrush steppe (sagegrouse habitat) areas as described in 2.05.4. Colowyo Technical Revision 72 was approved in 2009, the rangeland category for post -mine land use was refined into two subcategories defined by post- mining topography (slope) and site - specific suitability for either livestock or wildlife. The principles set forth in the revised reclamation plan have been applied to the Collom reclamation plan and bond release citeria (Section 2.05.4 and 4.15). As described in Section 2.04.11, the Collom area supports substantial populations of deer, elk, sage grouse, non -game birds, raptors, and numerous other wildlife species. Limited pasturelands are found within the proposed permit area but are not currently targeted for disturbance. These pasturelands have been historically grazed by livestock, especially sheep and cattle, during the spring, summer, and fall. Reclaimed minelands are now becoming an increasingly important land use component within the existing permit area. Substantial acreage of this type is now available for use by local wildlife populations and will become increasingly important as mining continues. These reclaimed areas are becoming the habitat of choice for local deer and elk populations during the fall and spring months and winter months when snow cover is not a limiting factor. Land Condition Capability and Productivity The present condition of the permit area can be described as good to fair for rangeland conditions. A trend toward improvement has taken place over much of the area due to reduced livestock grazing since the land was obtained by Colowyo. Grazing has not been allowed within the initial Colowyo permit area since fences were constructed in 1977 and will not be allowed in the additional permit area until final bond release is achieved. Areas where range condition was rated fair was restricted to the areas near water sources, especially stock ponds. These areas concentrated livestock, commonly leading to localized range deterioration. The remainder of lands within the permit area were and continue to be- in "good" range condition. In most cases, the soils within the permit area currently are being utilized for rangeland purposes with the agronomic usefulness of these: soils being limited to usage- as rangeland. Additional information on soils is found in Section 2.04.9. Collom — Rule 2, Page 19 Revision Date: 9/28/11 Revision No.: PR -03