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�F ✓ <br />GO 1� A <br />�e �v��o <br />Parks and If1fl.ti fe <br />l epartnient or ;`fti[.Llritt 1dM2'i]F�'rFs: <br />Salida Service Center <br />7405 W Highway 50 <br />Salida, CO 81201 <br />P 719.530.5520 1 F 719.530.5554 <br />Ms. Angela M. Bellantoni <br />Environmental Alternatives Inc. <br />H 07 Main Street <br />Canon City, Co 81212 <br />Re: Colorado Parks &Wildlife Review and Comments - Phillips Gravel Pit - Fremont County <br />Bear Ms. Bellantoni, <br />Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) would like to thank you for the opportunity to review the Phillips <br />Gravel Pit expansion. <br />CPW respectfully submits our comments and recommendations based on our review and collaboration on <br />this project. As always, CPW encourages, through thoughtful design and careful development, any <br />actions that avoid or minimize impacts to wildlife. We believe collaboration, along with our <br />recommendations, offers the greatest opportunity for avoiding developmental impacts where we believe <br />they may be significant and difficult to remedy. <br />At this time CPW has not identified or mapped any terrestrial species of special concern within the <br />proposed expansion site. Mule deer, elk, pronghorn, and black bear can be found in the proposed area of <br />expansion along with numerous other small game and non -game species. Transitory wildlife, such as <br />raptor nesting sites, could be present within the project area and CPW recommends a pre - construction <br />survey of the area to identify and avoid disturbances to the nest sites if present. <br />CPW does not foresee any significant impact to terrestrial wildlife species in the proposed expansion area. <br />However, CPW encourages the implementation of any actions that avoid or minimize potential impacts to <br />terrestrial wildlife. CPW would be pleased to provide further advice on minimizing such impacts should <br />conflicts arise. <br />CPW is concerned about potential significant impacts to aquatic species in the proposed expansion area. <br />Low Back Creek flows through the proposed expansion site. This riparian corridor is occupied by <br />amphibians and a native fish assemblage which includes southern redbelly dace (Ckrosomvs <br />erythrogaster). Southern redbelly dace, a state endangered species, are extremely rare in Colorado. The <br />population which occupies Low Back Creek through this project area is one of the only known naturally <br />occurring populations left in Colorado. Through cooperation with the current landowner we have been <br />able to extensively survey the habitat through this stream reach as well as remove several hundred fish to <br />be reared at the Mumma Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility in Alamosa for future conservation <br />efforts. The current population of southern redbelly dace at this locality is the most critical and abundant <br />population CPW is aware of in Colorado at this time. Additionally, southern redbelly dace have very <br />specific habitat requirements and are thought to be highly sensitive to environmental disturbance. <br />Given our concern regarding this critical fish population, CPW staff have been working closely with the <br />landowner to develop mitigation measures that not only meet the landowner's needs for mining based on <br />the geology and landscape of the property, but are also protective of this important riparian habitat. The <br />Bob D. s U$wa, Cdoado Parks and WNMfe. Pa ft and Wild ffe CCORflrOss ton: eft W. p ' <br />�.�:IaH'•Q'Hjs C85F�118l1, vrCe Chdfr 1 .• ..';i:i, <br />Jeanne "Orm, Sea'etary • Jdm Lard, Jr. - NU Kane. Gale Pket ..lams pr&A �V* . pm yard. A4k wife Zbr —rrm- Atex Zipp f <br />t �IN iG'N <br />