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Transit Mix Concrete Co. <br /> conducted further evaluation of the Mexican Spotted Owl habitat on and near the <br /> Ranch property. The Ranch property was surveyed for the presence of all <br /> threatened and endangered species and determined to be free of all listed plants <br /> and animals. Further wildlife and botanical evaluations were conducted to <br /> characterize the current conditions and to guide reclamation alternatives. <br /> To address concerns about impacts to the potential habitat of the Mexican Spotted <br /> Owl and other species, Transit Mix added enhanced sequencing of mining <br /> operations and simultaneous reclamation to minimize the overall affected area of <br /> habitat at any given time. This affected area will be less than 1% of the wildlife <br /> habitat in the project vicinity. Following reclamation, the proposed post mining land <br /> use will be exclusively wildlife habitat, and the reclamation topography and <br /> vegetation was specifically selected to promote wildlife habitat and existing and <br /> potential wildlife use. Highwall slopes are backfilled where practical to slope <br /> gradients of 3h:1v or shallower to provide access to the reclamation area. Haul <br /> roads and other ramps will be left on highwall slopes that remain to provide <br /> enhanced opportunities for wildlife ingress and egress and preserve the migration <br /> corridor identified by The Nature Conservancy when opposing the previous <br /> application. Vegetation seed and plant mixes were provided by the United States <br /> Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and <br /> Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to encourage wildlife habitat, and the <br /> vegetation throughout the quarry area mimics the natural vegetation based on <br /> slope aspect and elevation. North-facing slopes will have trees planted while south <br /> and east-facing slopes will have shrubs planted. Low-elevation areas along the <br /> access road will be reclaimed as grassland to match the vegetation in this area. <br /> Water: Surface water flow rate and quality analysis began in June 2015 and will continue <br /> through the life of the project. Erosion control and storm-water management <br /> systems and structures have been designed to ensure protection of the <br /> downstream users and minimize impacts to the prevailing hydrologic balance. <br /> An assessment of the existing groundwater conditions demonstrates that <br /> groundwater exists in shallow, fractured granitic bedrock over the entire site. The <br /> most active groundwater flow is within the more highly fractured zone underlying <br /> Little Turkey Creek. West of the West Geological Fault, groundwater flow in the <br /> fractured bedrock tends to be from the ridge areas towards Little Turkey Creek. <br /> Groundwater levels within the Little Turkey Creek fracture zone indicate a <br /> component of discharge to surface water and Little Turkey Creek gains surface <br /> water flow along this reach. East of the East Geological Fault, groundwater levels <br /> drop significantly below the water levels in Little Turkey Creek, indicating that the <br /> creek itself recharges the groundwater system and results in Little Turkey Creek <br /> losing surface water flow in the reach immediately downgradient (east) of the fault. <br /> Transit Mix has developed and implemented a water monitoring plan for both <br /> Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry Permit Application <br /> October 3,2017 xii <br />