2021-02-08_PERMIT FILE - M2021009 (11)

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ERC Wildlife Mitigation Plan Young Ranch Resource 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PURPOSE AND NEED Ecological Resource Consultants, Inc. (ERC) provides the following Wildlife Mitigation Plan (plan) for the proposed Young Ranch Resource (Project). The Project, which is slated to have an approximate 100-year lifespan, will be used to supply the Denver metro area and surrounding Colorado and regional markets with crushed stone and other aggregate products. With the current anticipated upward trend in economic activity and increasing population of Colorado, the Project will be a necessary resource to supply the region with a variety of aggregate products that are in high demand now and in the future. The purpose of this plan is to identify potential wildlife impacts resulting from construction and operation of the Project and provide a proactive framework to avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential adverse impacts. Additionally, this plan provides an assessment of current conditions, including a description of vegetation communities and an evaluation of wildlife habitat and use within the footprint of the proposed Project. This evaluation is based on local knowledge of Young Ranch and associated landscapes, interviews with the ranch owner and Central City staff, as well as on-line information about existing vegetation communities, species activity mapping provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and potential federal and state listed threatened or endangered species and/or habitat that could exist on or immediately surrounding the proposed Project. Additionally, this report contains an evaluation of potential impacts to wildlife along the Central City Parkway (CCP) corridor which is located immediately adjacent to the Project. This report provides a variety of conceptual mitigation recommendations for preservation and enhancement of wildlife resource at the proposed Project. Requisite with this plan is the desire by the owners of Young Ranch to allow this Project and associated development phases to progress with minimal impact to wildlife and natural resources. Additionally, mitigation measures are proposed for areas north of the Project along the CCP. Currently, there are no wildlife mitigation measures in place along any portion of the CCP. As such, this plan has been written to help ensure that long-term Project operations progress in a manner that are ecologically responsible and consistent with the vision and stewardship goals that Young Ranch has emplaced upon future generations. 1.2 DESCRIPTION OF YOUNG RANCH PROPOSED MINING ACTIVITIES The proposed aggregate mining operation is situated along the eastern boundary of the approximately 4,500-acre Young Ranch property. The proposed Project location and Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) permit boundary are shown on Figure 1. Additional information about the Project is provided in Section 2.0. Mining operations will be conducted over three phases starting in approximately 2021 and lasting through approximately 2120, and as dictated by market conditions. Mining phases are shown on Figure 2. During the pre-mining phase (-1 yr), access roads will be constructed from the CCP for the processing area and waste rock landform areas. The drainage area to the east of the CCP will be partially filled in to create a staging area for crushing/screening,offices(portable trailer),and scales. Existing culverts will be enhanced to allow for stormwater to pass under the waste rock landform areas. Stormwater for the processing area 1