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COLORADO <br /> ® Parks and Wildlife <br /> Department of Natural Resources <br /> Area 15 - Durango <br /> 151 East 16u'Street <br /> Durango, CO 81301 <br /> P 970.247.0855 1 F 970.382.9395 <br /> April 3, 2018 <br /> David Fisher <br /> Dolores County Road it Bridge Department <br /> 1010 N. Guyrene St. <br /> Dove Creek, CO 81324 <br /> RE: Dolores County Road & Bridge Department Proposed Gravel Pit, Legal Description SW4NW4, <br /> 16-14-19 <br /> Dear Mr. Fisher <br /> Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has reviewed the January 19, 2018 Request for Comment provided <br /> by Dolores County Road a Bridge Department for the proposed 20-acre gravel pit (proposed project) <br /> located at 5280 Road 3.7, Dove Creek, CO 81324. We understand that the proposed project will include <br /> topsoil piles, overburden piles, a designated location for crushed and uncrushed stockpiles, and a <br /> location for the mining excavation. The project will also utilize pre-existing two track roads on the <br /> property to allow access to Dolores County Road 3.7. The project will be constructed within a parcel of <br /> land which has already been disturbed by several sample gravel sites and the timeframe for <br /> construction is undetermined at this time. CPW also understands that the proposed project is planned <br /> to remain operational for twenty years, during which time the gravel pit will be worked one out of <br /> every three to four months. Four to six employees will be at the site working four to five days a week. <br /> Dolores County Road and Bridge Department also plans to reseed the site with a native grass mix during <br /> the post development period. <br /> CPW recently visited the site. The majority of this partially disturbed land consists primarily of pinon, <br /> juniper, sagebrush and grassland communities bordered on the north and east side by agriculture land. <br /> Wildlife species found in this area may include mule deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear, neo-tropical <br /> birds, various raptors, small mammals and potentially Gunnison sage-grouse (GuSG). <br /> Gunnison Sage-Grouse Concerns <br /> The proposed location is within Critical Habitat as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife <br /> Service (USFWS) for Gunnison sage-grouse, a Threatened Species listed under the Endangered Species <br /> Act. In addition, CPW has documented active leks 3.6 miles and 4.6 miles from the proposed gravel pit <br /> site. This site also falls within the overall range of GuSG habitat, as mapped by CPW. <br /> CPW recommends: <br /> • Contacting USFWS for more information on Gunnison sage-grouse Critical Habitat, the <br /> distribution of GuSG, and potential impacts from the proposed project on this species. <br /> • We also recommend directing traffic associated with gravel pit operations south on Dolores <br /> County Road 3.7 to Highway 491 to limit noise and truck traffic disturbance in GuSG habitat. <br /> • Design facilities with structures such that they do not provide perches or nest substrates for <br /> raptors, crows, and ravens. <br /> • Implement measures to minimize retention of stagnant surface water to limit opportunities for <br /> transmission of West Nile virus. <br /> • Avoid establishing and control aggressive non-native grasses, such as cheat grass and jointed <br /> pf'CO <br /> Bob D.Broschetd,Director,CoforadD Parks and%'Aldife•Parks and 1Ytdife Commission:Robert V1.Bray•Marie Hackett•Carrie&-matte Hauser Nc •r':—' <br /> John Hone ard,Chair►Marvin McDaniel•Dale Met•Jim Spehar.James Vigil,Secretary•Dean 1YinsWd► Wchette Zimmerman,Vice-Chair.Alex Zipp .�? •„ <br /> '1876 i <br />