2020-12-01_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M2020041

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To:13038328106 Page:2 of 7 2020-12-01 23:56:54 GMT 13032008630 From:Ben Langenfeld 1:�.7cr4' &C� 2't ) �P 6"y fW, Y' Assoc.x y* v( �. f % ;_303}3 l6-69 CO fi?1.::;`r December 1.2020 JT Romatzke Colorado["arks and Wildlife Department of Natural Resources Northwest Regional Office 711 Independent Ave. Grand Junction,CO 81505 Subj: CPW Comments on DRMS application-Peak Ranch Resource,Permit M2020-041 Mr. Romatzke: This letter responds to your letter documenting CPW's comments on impacts to wildlife in the 1.t 2c Construction Materials Reclamation Permit Amendment Application submitted on August 19,2020,Permit M2020-041. Wildlife Habitat The project area occurs within summer range for moose,elk and mule deer.Additionally, it occurs within rraule deer and elk winter range,and along the edge of an elk winter concentration area and a mule ticer"migration corridor. The Blue River riparian corridor is ca mule deer concentration area as well as an important movxment cor•ridor.for other big game species, .small rnarnmals and bird species. The pr•olreriy currently provides limited value icr big game.species due to.forage conditions: however,animals move through the property regularly to access the river and adjacent habitats. This movement crceuas year round with higher,activity during the winter months and drag ing spring and.f ill migrations.Black bears also inhabit the area,and the property is directly adjacent to black bear summer concentration habitat across the:river to the west. Response The Peak Ranch Resource has been an agricultural operation for several decades. It's premine use,agriculture withlimited water availability,is a primary reason the post rnine land use selected is rangeland. Peak Materials,however,will incoi-poratc as many wildlife friendly mining and reclarriation cornponents into its plans and designs as possible as part of its stewardship of the property. Raptors, including Bald Eagle and Osprey,have been observed on the west end cif the property along the Blue River.A Bald Eagle nest previously existed on the property, and the entire stretch of the Blue River.i•om Silverthorne Town Limits north to Green Mountain Reservoir provides stammer and winter,forage and winter concentration habitat for Bald Eagles. CPW requests that prior to any construction or mining activity on the property, valid raptor nest surveys(before July 3/)and migratory bird nest surveys(before July 1.5)he performed by a certified biologist. CPW requests that trees with active nests be retained,and no disturbance he allowed within a 0.25-mile radius of active raptor nests until.fleclging has occurred. Response Peak Materials will conduct valid raptor nest surveys and migratory bird nest surveys via a certified biologist prior to mining activity onsite. Traffic Peak Resources plans to truck aggregate frond the property to iWarvland Creek Ranch,approximately 7 miles south on State I iglnvay 9(S119). This stretch of highlyay between mileposts 107414(approximately)has been identijied in the Summit Counts:Safe Passages County-wide Connectivity Plan as a high priority area for mitigating wildlife-vehicle collisions,which occur year-round. Traffic volumes along SfT9 through this area have been increasing steadily in recent years,and CPW is concerned that hem y truck traffic between the property and Maryland Creels Ranch mcav increase wildlife-vehicle collisions. Response to CPW Comments on Peak Ranch Resource I of'6