TABLE OF CONTENTS 



iii 

 LIST OF FIGURES 



... vii 

 LIST OF MAPS 



. . viii 

 LIST OF TABLES 



1 

 INTRODUCTION 



1 



Background _ 1 



Circle West Project 2 



Overall Study Scope and Objectives • • ^ 



Objectives and Approach'of the Wiidlife'saseline Study 4 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CIRCLE WEST STUDY AREA ^ 



9 



Climate and Weather 1q 



Geology and Soils 10 



Vegetation and Habitat Categories 



23 

 METHODS 



. 23 



Habitat Description • • • • • 23 



General Ground and Aerial Surveys and Analysis ^s 



Roadside Wildlife Survey and Analysis • ^4 



Breeding Bird Census ' ' 34 



Insect Studies ' ' 34 



Small Mammal Trapping . . . 39 



Lagomorph Survey 



... 41 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



41 



Wildlife Species Parameters 1^2 



Bird Community Parameters 173 



Small Mammal Community Parameters ^^^ 



Furbearers : .: : A 1 lAfi 



Summary of Wildlife Communities by Habitai: Category 



SPECIAL CONCERNS ^^^ 



191 



Habitats of Special Concern ^g^ 



Species of Special Concern 



194 

 ASSESSMENT OF DATA ADEQUACY 



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING 



„ ,. , 195 



Rationale ig^ 



Plan of Study ; A " ■/•4. los 



Significance of Impact and the Problem of Causality '^o 



i 



