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! • III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII • <br /> <br />STATE OF COLORADO ggg <br />Roy Romer, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />All EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Perry D. Olson, Dneclor <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver. Colorado 00216 <br />Telephone (707) 2971192 <br />161 E. 16th St. <br />Durango, CO 81361 <br />V•' <br />M1N~F.aL~ .... . <br />REFER TO <br />~j-~~~~o <br />N®~y <br />'~ OF `~ <br />For WrldG/e- <br />For People <br />February 22, 1993 <br />La Plata County Commissioners <br />1060 E. 2nd Ave. <br />Uurango,CO 81301 <br />Dear Commissioners, <br />The Division of Wildlife IUOWi appreciates the invitation to <br />comment on land use changes as they relate to the impact of <br />wildlife habitat.. This letter specifically addresses the <br />application by Oakridge Energy, Inc, for approval of a gravel <br />extraction permit. The Division of Wildlife has also commented to <br />the Colorado Division of Minerals & Geology pertaining to this <br />mining venture. <br />Our comments to the Division of Minerals and Geology related how <br />significant land use changes have occurred in the County over the <br />last ten years, and how the Division of Wildlife is concerned with <br />the cumulative loss of wildlife habitat, primarily big game winter <br />range. The UOW is not in a position to oppose this proposed land <br />use, rather the DOW would like to bring to the attention of the <br />Board of County Commissioners the available means the applicant has <br />in reducing impacts to wildlife. <br />The gravel mining venture, as proposed, will run simultaneously <br />with a coal mine which was permitted by the County in 1981. The <br />combination of both land uses will restrict the use of this area by <br />deer and elk. The reclamation plan as outlined by the original <br />coal mine is the basis for the reclamation plan submitted by <br />Oakridge Energy, Inc. for this gravel mine. Both reclamation plans <br />designate wildlife habitat as the future land use. The DOW fully <br />supports this designation. However, this property and the adjacent <br />Bureau of Land Management holding, will end up becoming "island" <br />habitat in this ever increasing developed County. Wildlife will <br />become dependent on these "island" areas. With pro-active <br />management, these small areas can be managed to provide the forage <br />base to support the big game animals as well as other wildlife <br />which also use the Pinyon/Juniper/oakbrush ranges. <br />~ 19g~ <br />~~8 ~ <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Kenneth Salazar, Execvtve Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, George VanDenBerg, Chairman ~ William R. Hegberg, Member Eldon Cooper. Member ~ Felix Chavez, Member <br />Rebecca L. Frank Member ~ Loins F. Swift, Member ~ Arnold Salazar, Member ~ Thomas M. Eve, Member <br />