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Black Canyon Audubon Society <br />PO Box 287 <br />Delta, CO 81416 <br />www. iilackCanvonAti(whon.orc! <br />November 12, 2013 <br />Robbie LeValley <br />Delta County Administrator <br />501 Palmer St., Suite 227 <br />Delta, CO 81416 -1796 <br />Dear Ms LeValley, <br />The Board of the Black Canyon Audubon Society met on November 7, 2013 and <br />discussed the proposed gravel pit on North Road just east of Fruitgrowers Reservoir. We <br />appreciate the proactive approach taken by the County in discussing the project with us on <br />October 1, the consideration given our concerns with the project, and the proposed mitigation <br />measures developed by Bob Kalenak forwarded to us earlier in the day on November 7. We felt <br />that our meeting with Delta County and its project consultants was very positive, and the <br />proposed mitigation measures we received further reinforce those sentiments. For the record, <br />our concerns with the North Road Gravel Pit were noise during migration and nesting at <br />Fruitgrowers Reservoir, disturbance of cranes during their migratory stopover at the reservoir, <br />increased traffic on the causeway, and safety of birders visiting Fruitgrowers Reservoir that use <br />the causeway throughout the year. We were also concerned that following reclamation, after <br />cessation of gravel mining, sale of the land might result in it being developed for housing, which <br />would eliminate the parcel as wildlife habitat and increase traffic across the causeway at <br />Fruitgrowers Reservoir. <br />The meeting contributed to our understanding of the gravel pit. Important information <br />conveyed to us included that a portion of the proposed pit location was a former gravel pit that <br />was never reclaimed, and another portion of the proposed area was formerly farmed, but is now <br />weedy and not particularly attractive to birds. The pit will be a dry pit, in that it lies above the <br />existing water table, and groundwater infiltration will not be a factor. The existing Antelope Hill <br />gravel pit, about 1 mile south of Fruitgrowers Reservoir, currently uses North Road across the <br />causeway at Fruitgrowers Reservoir as one of the routes used to haul gravel, and the new pit will <br />increase the amount of gravel - hauling traffic somewhat. We also understand that the County <br />will need to comply with State regulations already in place regarding dust and water, and their <br />permit from the State includes reclamation requirements that have the intent that reclamation is <br />