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�-,, COLORADO <br /> ','51 •7 Parks and Wildlife <br /> Department of Natural Resources <br /> Pueblo Service Center <br /> 600 Pueblo Reservoir Road <br /> Pueblo, CO 81005 <br /> P 719.561.53001 F 719.561.5321 C,��O <br /> May 9, 2024 ReC <br /> Mph 14 1024 <br /> Mr. Eric C. Scott of Rec1amatio% <br /> Division of Reclamation,Mining, and Safety soon <br /> 1313 Sherman St., RM 215 CO\0Cad 1 n9 and Safety <br /> Denver, CO 80203 <br /> (303)866-3567 x 8140 <br /> RE: SISKIN-File No.M1987-116,Colorado Quarries INC.,Permit Conversion (CN-1), 110c to 112c <br /> Conversion Application for a pit 3 miles SE of Silvercliffe,CO,Sec 26,Township 22S,Range 72 W <br /> in Custer County,CO. <br /> Dear Mr. Scott: <br /> Recently Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a request for written comments concerning a proposed <br /> gravel pit expansion permit application in Custer County. This permit is requested by Colorado Quarries <br /> Inc. This request was forwarded to District Wildlife Manager Justin Krall for site inspection. The pit <br /> expansion would expand the current pit size of about nine acres to 85.7 acres. <br /> DWM Krall was not able to physically assess the area due to a locked gate at the end of the county road by <br /> the Silvercliffe cemetery. DWM Krall is familiar with the area and has driven and flown over the proposed <br /> site in the past. Krall was able to assess impacts on wildlife that this proposed action may have based on <br /> present and historical knowledge of the area. The mine site is about 3 miles southeast of the town of <br /> Silvercliffe. Wildlife species that may be commonly found on the site and surrounding areas are elk, mule <br /> deer, pronghorn, western rattle snake, bull snake, and various bird species. Gunnison prairie dogs may be <br /> found on the site in addition to Golden Eagles. The area can best be categorized as high elevation upland <br /> range consisting of both cool and warm season native grasses, predominantly blue gramma. There are also <br /> several native shrub species present, e.g., (currant,winter fat, and mountain mahogany). <br /> The area of the proposed expansion serves as winter range for both deer and elk and a summer concentration <br /> area for pronghorn. Disturbance to the habitat is likely to occur due to the proposed action;however,habitat <br /> disturbance can be minimized using the following recommendations. <br /> • Care should be taken in the design and construction of access roads to the site to minimize erosion, <br /> taking into account proper drainage and sloping of road cuts. Slopes should be seeded with a native <br /> seed mix and monitored for successful vegetation establishment. <br /> • A stockpile of topsoil should be set aside for reclamation purposes. This stockpile should also be <br /> temporarily seeded to minimize erosion losses, and then spread over the affected area prior to <br /> seeding with native grasses, forbs, and shrubs. <br /> • It is recommended that livestock be excluded from the site until such time as the site is released <br /> and the bond returned. <br /> oy C(),�, <br /> ,� . -P <br /> ,e <br /> .!a7Ff <br /> Jeff Davis,Director,Colorado Parks and Wildlife <br /> Parks and Wildlife Commission:Dallas May,Chair•Richard Reading,Vice-Chair•Karen Bailey,Secretary•Jessica Beaulieu <br /> Marie Haskett•Jack Murphy•Gabriel Otero•Duke Phillips,IV•James Jay Tutchton•Eden Vardy <br />