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COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE <br />Pueblo Office <br />600 Reservoir Road • Pueblo, Colorado 81005 <br />Phone (719) 561 -5300 • FAX (719) 561 -5321 <br />wildIife.state.co.us • parks. state. co. us <br />Angela Bellantoni <br />Environmental Alternatives Inc. <br />1107 Main Street <br />Canon City, CO 81212 <br />719- 275 -8951 <br />Website: enval tern atives.COm <br />RE: All Rite Paving and Redi -Mix Stonewall Pit <br />15 Acres (Gravel Pit — Bar Nothing Ranch) <br />Dear Ms. Bellantoni, <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed 15 acre gravel pit site for All Rite <br />Paving and Redi -Mix Stonewall Pit on the Bar Nothing Ranch in western Las Animas County. <br />This proposed disturbance is in an area of high elk use during three seasons of the year and <br />particularly important as winter range. As such CPW has offered recommendations which might <br />assist the landowner and the wildlife resource. Bar Nothing Ranch Owner, Betsy Mecom, has <br />been a valued partner in conservation efforts within the Stonewall Valley and we appreciate the <br />opportunity to assist in this endeavor. <br />As indicated this property is essential habitat for elk in Game Management Units 85 and <br />851 providing critical winter range and utilization during fall rut activity and <br />spring /summer cow calf groups. Due to these ungulate concentrations mountain lions <br />also frequent the area for prey exploitation and sightings and lion kills are not <br />uncommon. Additionally, mule deer, Merriam's turkey and black bear utilize this <br />meadow complex at various times of the year for a variety of functions from brood <br />rearing (turkey) to grazing by bears emerging from the den. There is a historical Golden <br />eagle nest site on the rock outcroppings to the southwest and Golden eagles utilize prairie <br />dogs that frequent meadow areas in the Stonewall Valley. Bald eagles utilize the area <br />during the winter as well. <br />Generally, wildlife will be displaced to adjacent areas of cover during the proposed <br />operation but should utilize the area, possibly with increased frequency, if <br />appropriate rehabilitation practices are utilized. Additionally, noise `pollution' can <br />negatively impact breeding calls of game and non game species such as turkey and <br />neotropical birds so seasonal timing of activity might lessen that impact. <br />Inclusion of native shrubs such as four wing saltbush might increase mule deer use and <br />proper grasses and forbs will all of the above mentioned wildlife species seasonally. As <br />an aid, below is the grass and shrub mixture utilized on our Bosque del Oso State <br />Wildlife in western Las Animas County developed in conjunction with the Natural <br />Resource Conservation Service. <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />John W. Hickenlooper, Governor. Mike King, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources <br />Rick D. Cables, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife <br />Parks and Wildlife Commission. Robert W Bray • Chris Castilian • Jeanne Horne <br />Bill Kane, Vice -Chair • Gaspar Perncone • James Pribyl . John Singletary, Chair <br />Mark Smith, Secretary • James Vigil • Dean Wingfield • Michelle Zimmerman <br />Ex Officio Members: Mike King and John Salazar <br />