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~ United Sts~tes <br />f(~r1~~ Department of <br />a.~` Agriculture <br />III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII <br />999 <br />Co servation <br />Service <br />.June 29, 1988 <br />1~1r. Gary Tuttle <br />Tuttle Applegate Rindahl, Inc. <br />11990 Grant Street <br />`.iu i to 41$ <br />Denver, CO 80233 <br />f2E: COAL CREEK RESOURCE <br />Dear Mr. Tuttle, <br />Lake Field Office <br />730 Simms Street, Room 430 <br />Lakewood, CO 80401 <br />(303) 236-2702 <br />I have a number of comments/observations to make regarding <br />this application. To make your review less cumbersome, I <br />have referenced pertinent sections of the application <br />narrative and addendum which relate to my comments. <br />13efore I begin, however, I feel compelled to suggest that <br />the "cottonwood issue" remains unresolved. Everything I <br />have seen and heard thus far supports the notion that a 12 <br />foot average drop in the elevation of the streambed--and, <br />therefore, the water table--w.i_II_spell dQOm for these trees. <br />It may be argued that in 25 or_30 years these fairly even- <br />aged cottonwoods may become more of a liability than an <br />environmental asset as they begin to die of o_I_d age. <br />Depending on the long range land use objectives for this <br />site, the loss of some portions of the existing stand, if <br />compensated for by a diligent tree planting program may not <br />be so tragic (?) and may help ensure viable riparian tree <br />cover well into the future. Obviously, this is not a <br />decision to be left solely to engineers, economists, <br />developers and biologists. The "value" of the cottonwoods <br />cannot entirely be measured in monetary terms. They are a <br />community asset and possess aesthetic benefits which may <br />exceed even the significant wildlife values in the mind of <br />the average person. <br />Since a consensus on a plan for mitigation of damage to the <br />cottonwoods has not yet been reached, I propose that a field <br />trip be organized for sometime in July so that those persons <br />with expertise in the areas of mining, riparian vegetation <br />management, hydrology, drainage engineering, wildlife <br />biology, erosion control, etc., could meet and share ideas <br />and information. The "landowner" and applicant should be <br />present, as well, to help the group keep future land use <br />issues and objectives:in proper focus.: I think: this kind of <br />effort could generate useful ideas and--at the least--would <br />demonstrate a constructive and conscientious posture on the <br />part of the applicant and landowner. Among others, I would <br />recommend extending invitations to Mike Scott (Wetlands <br />Ecologist, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Ecology <br />O Tna Sod Conservation Serrate SGS-AS-1 <br />U is an aperity of lne 10-79 <br />D eDatl me 11 of Apntult ura <br />