Laserfiche WebLink
tionally, excavation and the removal of vegetation in the proposed quarry area will ex- <br />acerbate flash flooding. Potentiai fuel spills, the use of herbicides to clear noxious <br />weeds and other contaminate runoff may impact wells located downstream. <br />The application fails to protect wildlife. Loss of habitat poses the greatest threat to any <br />species and the reclamation plan proposed in the application generally ignores the de- <br />struction of habitat and its consequences; especially, the potential for irreparable dam- <br />age to Little Turkey Creek, one of the few perennial streams and riparian habitats along <br />this section of the Front Range. Both governmental and private organizations have iden- <br />tified the unique conservation and environmental value of the area_ The proposed quar- <br />ry area is a part of the The Nature Conservancy of Colorado's Aiken Canyon Potential <br />Conservation Area and identified by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program as a site of <br />very high significance. The area is mapped by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as Criti- <br />cal Habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl, a federal and state listed threatened spec e . <br />Finally, Colorado Parks and Wildlife identifies the area as a major wildlife migration cor- <br />ridor. <br />Due to the significant number of objectors in the area that will be negatively affected by <br />the proposed quarry, the committee requests that both the Pre -hearing Conference and <br />MLRB Hearing be conducted in Colorado Springs_ <br />Regards, <br />G.K. McCowen <br />Chairman, Highway 115 Citizens Advisory Committee <br />15580 Cala Rojo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80926 <br />hwyl15cac@gmail.com <br />(719) 352-1519 <br />