2016-11-04_PERMIT FILE - M2016009 (7)

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greatly increase the likelihood of detection and reduce the likelihood of inadvertently harming burrowing owls if they are present. Upland short grass prairie,identical to the proposed project area,provides critical habitat for a variety of raptors which are also protected under federal and state law. Due to the lack of suitable nesting habitat on the property the potential for disturbing nests or a nesting pair of raptors would normally be negligible. However,directly to south and east of the proposed gravel mine is a major series of electrical transmission lines. An active golden eagle nest occupies one of the utility poles in the transmission lines to the south of the proposed development site. The CPW strongly encourages that the distances outlined in the attached"Raptor Buffer Zone Guidelines" be adhered to avoid disturbing a nesting pair,in the likely event that they return to this nest. Weed Management and Seed Mix In your request for our concerns about the impacts to wildlife,and for a suggested reclamation seed mix there was no mention of a weed management plan. Often,minimal attention is paid to weed control efforts that should take place on all parts of a property,especially a developed one. Non-native vegetation,such as Russian knapweed,easily becomes established in disturbed areas and roadways and can be detrimental to other more wildlife friendly native vegetation. Non- native vegetation easily becomes established on neighboring private and public properties,and often proves time and cost intensive to control if establishment is not consistently addressed. The CPW therefore,recommends that control of non-native vegetation occur regularly on all parts of the gravel mine property especially along roadways and in disturbed areas. CPW respectfully requests the opportunity to review the projects Noxious Weed Management Plan pending completion. Revegetation of disturbed areas and areas of weed infestation is important to the long-term success of the project and CPW acknowledges the potential difficulty of this undertaking. Your request stated that the USDA has been contacted for a seed mix,CPW will defer any recommendations for a comprehensive seed mix suitable for revegetation of the given area to the USDA and NRCS. Proper reclamation,from a wildlife perspective,involves not only stabilizing the soil and establishing ground cover,but fostering plant communities with a diversity of species and plant types(grasses,broadleaf forbs,and woody vegetation)which will fully serve the nutritional and cover needs of wildlife. All reclamation seed mixes should be comprised of native seed only,suited to on-site soil types,and mirror native plant communities. All reseeding should be completed in a timely manner and should be monitored for success and noxious weed establishment. Below is a short list of grasses,shrubs and forbs that the CPW would recommend including in the finalized seed mix. USDA recommendations should surpass CPW suggestions and their seed mix prescription should be followed Grasses: blue grams(Bouteloua gracilis), sideoats grams(Boutelous curtipendula),ring muhly (Muhlenbergia torreyi),sand dropseed(sporobolus cryptandrus) Forbs and Shrubs:milk vetch(Astragalus adsurgens),sand sagebrush(Artemisia filifolia), skunk brush sumac(Rhos trilobata),fourwing saltbush(Atriplez canescens)