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~ ~ TATE OF COLORADO . Rl h d D ~ , ar s . l~mm, Oer~mw ~~ . O D DEPARTMENT OF NATURAU RESOURCES L ~~ O, DIVISION OF WILDLIFE ~ ~ ~ ~ Jock R. Orly b, Otrvctor . `~~ ~ ,r~ N '~ 6090 Broedwey OF W Denver, Coloredo 80218 826-1182 711 Independent Avenue Grand Junction, Colorado 81501 JT~ly 13, 1977 Charles K. Curlee Biologist 3R Corporation 1221 So. Clarkson Street __ Suite 910 Denver, Colorado 80210 RE: Baseline Biological Inventory Hayden Gulch [4. R. Grace t-line Dear Mr. Curlee: The baseline inventory appears to address the vegetation rather extensively. The collection, measurement and identification of plants is sometimes more simplified than is the collection, measurement and identification of the fauna of an area. The information shows how much cover there is in the area, and the variety of good to excellent habitat that will be destroyed by the mining activity. habitat of this type will be hard to replace in kind no matter how extensive the reclamation is. Hundreds of years will be needed to re-establish the ecosystems that will be gone. There was evidence of very little field work for wildlife species. A one month study in the field during early winter is inadequate to study the wildlife species and the importance of this habitat to the variety of species present. With no studies done this spring during high biological activity periods, many important factors were missed. There are many assumptions given with no biological information to back them up. The review of literature seems to be very extensive but literature review is no substitute for yoocl field wort: and observations. The lack of field study is very evident on page 46 where informa- tion is lacking on Che breeding and nesting activities of birds assumed to be absent or maybe present on the site. Why weren't studies done this spring? }low can 1.he importance of this hal;itat for wildlife be adequately addressed with a one month field study done in October when animals are migrating, hibernating, or already gone Erom the area- Information on the Colorado Sr}uawfish is not correct as reference is made on page 76. Whomever was responsible for the fisheries section did not do an extensive enough literature review or contact enough people to make the statement, "It is unlikely that either of these fish are present in the Williams Fork or Yampa Rivers". The sc}uawfish has been found in t}Te Yampa River in 1976 and almost every year of study DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Harris Sherman, Eeccutlve Director VJIL DLIFE COMMISSION, Vernon C. VJillia ms, Cheirma~ Thomas Ferley„Vice CJ+av man Snm Caudill, Seu Otary Jeen K 7001, Member Roger Clerk, fA r•m ber .~ r. i ~. .. ,~.....4... r.. .., ii..tl r. ,,:. ~.,.. r.., .., ..~.. i., r,•,. ,., h.,.