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•. ~r STATE OF COLORA~ • <br />DEPARTMENTcOF NATURAL RESOURCE:'II'I"I~'I"""I~ <br />DIVISION OF WILDLI. _ 999 <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYEE <br />Perry D. Olson, Director <br />6060 aroatlway <br />Denver, Colorado 60216 <br />Telephone: X303)297-1192 <br />Larry Rogstad, District Wildlife Manager <br />1528 28th avenue court <br />Greeley, Colorado BC591 phone 352-21113 <br />Lanell J. Curry, Current Planaer <br />Department of Planning Services <br />Weld County <br />915 1Cth street <br />Greeley, Colorado 80b31 <br />Dear Lanell <br />Re: Case Number USR-921 <br />REFER i0: <br />`p1ARgpo <br />O <br />yQv` <br />0`~ OF `~ <br />Tom Lynch, District Wildlife Manager Brighton Colorado, Don Bogart, Terrestrial <br />Habitat Biologist for the Division in the N.E. region, and I have made a site in- <br />spection of the Perry Property. Additionally, I have reviewed the test for this <br />proposal that was supplied to your agency by the Asphalt Paving Company. In this <br />letter you will find the Division of Wildlife comments concerning the impact to <br />habitat and the wildlife resource if the Perry Pit is developed. The Division <br />will also recommend several modifications to the Perry pit reclamation plan, based <br />on our findings, <br /> <br />The property itself lies within the floodplain of the South Platte River. A warm <br />water slough bisects the property from north to south with characteristic wetland <br />species of grasses, sedges and rush vegetation, shrubs snd trees. There are mixed <br />groves of cottonwood, willows, tamriek, elm and russian olive associated with the <br />slough, as xell as along the river bottom. There is a large cattail marsh in the <br />southwest corner of the property. Standing rater was found in this marsh during <br />both visits made to the site. The pasture land on either side of the slough can <br />be characterized as being highly overgrazed and generally poor for livestock. The <br />predominant plant types throughout much of the pastures consist of noxious weeds <br />including: various species of thistle and leafy spurge. Grasses are generally of <br />poor types for livestock grazing. There is a prarie dog colony in the pasture west <br />of the slough. Scattered throughout the pastures, however, one finds faculative <br />and obligate wetland plant species. Therefore these pastures should be considered <br />subirrigated (wetland iafluenced) riparian pastures. In summary, most or all of <br />this parcel could be considered to lie within the riparian zone of the South Platte. <br />T,,e Perry Farm is an important part of the continuous "belt" of wildlife habitat <br />that is associated with the South Platte River and its tributaries. The low eleva- <br />tion cottonwood-willow riparian zone found along the rivers and irrigation systems <br />of Weld County are characteristic of the mast highly productive and diversified <br />ecosystem is the xestern II.S, For example, over half of the L38 species of birds <br />found in Colorado are permanent or part-time residents of lowland cottonwood-willow <br />zones. The wildlife species list found in exhibit H of the MLRB application found <br />in the packet should be considered a partial list. Additionally, American Bald <br />Eagles concentrate along the South Platte corridor in winter and spring. Therefore, <br />any development along the river may impact this species, <br />lof4 <br />i <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. Hamlet J. Barry, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, George VanDen6erg, Chairman . Robert L Freidenberger, Vice Chairman . William R. Hegberg, Secretary <br />Eldon W. Cooper, Member . Rebecca L. Frank Member . Dennis Luttrell, Member . Gene B. Peterson, Member . Larry M. Wright, Member <br />