PERMFILE41171

• Permit No: M1996082
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 10/28/1996
• Doc Name: 112 PERMIT APPLICATION BLAIR MESA GRAVEL PIT RIO BLANCO CNTY
• From: CORN CONSTRUCTION CO
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO •
Roy Romer, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
John W. Mumma, Director
6060 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80216
Telephone: [phone]
Corn Construction Co.
P.O. Box 1240
Grand Junction, CO 81502
• REFER TO
Fnr lNildlifc-
For People
September 23, 1996
Dear Mr. Kirtland:
I have toured the site of your proposed gravel pit on Blair
Mesa. At the present time, the vegetation consists of a mixture
of sagebrush and grease wood shrubs with an understory of
primarily annual grasses. The wildlife species that can be found
in the area include, but are not limited to, cottontail rabbits,
jack rabbits, badgers, coyotes, sage grouse, ground squirrels,
mule deer, elk, plus a variety of raptors, rodents, and reptiles.
The proposed mine site is located in critical mule deer
winter range along the White River. Heavy concentrations of mule
deer will be found in the this area during the winter months.
Elk can also be found in this area. Heaviest concentrations of
elk would be noted during extremely hard winters.
Sage grouse have been noted to use the fields along the
White River during the winter months. These birds will migrate in
from areas both north and south of the river. The increase in
activity in the area has the potential to cause the sage grouse
to alter their movements to and from the river.
The wildlife species that use this area on a year round
basis will either be destroyed by the operation or move to
undisturbed or revegetated sites if any exist. If revegetation is
properly done, wildlife species from the undisturbed areas should
repopulate the area.
The site is well above the White River, but does have the
potential during high moisture events to adversely affect the
silt load in the White River. As the White River supports a
population of the endangered Colorado River Squawfish, it is
recommended that measures be taken to prevent any runoff that
could have adverse impacts on the Squawfish population.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, James S. Lochhead. Executive Director
WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Arnold Salazar, Chairman • Rebecca L. Frank, Vice Chair • Mark LeValley, Secretary
Louis F. Swift, Member • Jesse Langston Boyd, Jr., Member
William R. Hegberg, Member • John Stulp. Member • James R. Long, Member