reclamation on wildlife, comparisons can be made on the mine site between var- 

 ious parameters measured before and after mining and during reclamation to 

 determine if they have changed. Control (undisturbed off-mine site) areas can 

 be sampled concurrently to determine if the observed changes actually resulted 

 from mining activity or are simply due to natural variation. Assuming natural 

 variation to be equal between control and experimental areas, any differences 

 between the two areas after mining and reclamation will be attributable to 

 mining-related activities. 



The baseline study was organized into a number of research segments as 

 described in the study plan for the terrestrial fauna component of the Circle 

 West Baseline Study (November 12, 1975). The primary responsibility for de- 

 signing, organizing, and coordinating these studies rested with DNRC, which was 

 also involved in certain aspects of the field work and data analysis. Four 

 contracts were let by DNRC to accomplish remaining segments of the baseline 



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big game data; 2) one with Thomas Dahmer, a graduate student, who was prim- 

 arily responsible for small mannal trapping but also assisted with many other 

 research segments; 3) one with Richard Douglass, a consultant, who designed 

 and set up the small mammal study; and 4) one with Renewable Resources Consul- 

 ting Services, Ltd., for computer analysis of small mammal trapping data. 



In fall of 1976^when the wildlife inventory work began, field work on the 

 vegetation baseline study was well under way, and provided invaluable habitat 

 information. Other components of the baseline study, however, were in the 

 planning stages and had not yet been initiated. On June 20, 1977, DNRC was 

 informed by Dreyer Brothers, Inc. that the company wished to indefinately post- 

 pone the initiation of any new studies planned by DNRC. At that time, only the 

 vegetation, terrestrial fauna, and tributary stream studies were underway. This 

 action had several important consequences regarding the terrestrial fauna study. 

 First, quantitative information on several important habitat parameters -- 

 meteorology, soils, physiography, aquatic ecosystems -- were not available for 

 inclusion in this study. Second, some portions of the vegetation mapping were 

 not completed. Third, studies of terrestrial arthropods, expecially grass- 

 hoppers, which were originally planned to be made in conjunction with tne veg- 

 etation studies, could not be made during the 1977 field season. 



