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~~~ STATE OF COLORADO Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES `~ DIVISION OF WILDLIFE v AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Bruce McCloskey, Director 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 Telephone: (303) 297-1192 March 21.2007 G. Russell Means Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver. CO 80203 Mr. Means: ~G~(~C~=P99!=(~ For Wildlife- FarPeople Thank you forthe opportunity to comment on the proposed gravel pit. The Colorado Division of Wildlife believes that the habitat within the development area has a high wildlife value. Wildlife species in the area include deer, elk, eagles, coyotes, bobcats, mountain Ions, and numerous other species: . The gravel. pit activity will take place in or adjacent to riparian habitat.. Riparian habitats along with water are cruciai'for most wildlife in the area throughout the year. The majority of animals use this habitat type for some aspect of their life cycle. Riparian areas 'are the, most,#ragiie to disruption and offer the best habitat to a wide variety of animal species. No known threatened or endangered wildlife species are found on the proposed pit site. The proposed site is likely most important for mule deer and elk winter range. We would recommend that a seasonal closure on the mining operation during the critical winter/early spring period (January 1 to March 31). This would mitigate some of the stress/disturbance to wintering deer/elk, if possible. Non-native weed species have become established on many.disturbed soils throughout the area. The invasion of non-native weeds reduces the density of native vegetation and lessens the habitat.values.for native wildlife species. Many of these nonnative weeds are not used as forage by wildlife. The continual control and removal of nonnative weeds on the disturbed/rehabilitated sites will help restore native vegetation that is valuable to wildlife. The gravel pit lies in an area where native vegetation provides foraging, nesting, and cover habitats for numerous species of wildlife. The removal and disturbance of native vegetation for the construction of the above gravel pit and associated roads will negatively impad the native wildlife species associated with this project area. Upon rehabilitation of gravel pit, negative impacts to native wildlife can be offset by planting a suitable mixture of native grass/forb/shrub-seed. Seed:plantings on disturbed soils will 'haveig~eater:germination and surviva6 rates when the soil.surface, has been,prepafed ~to: hold moisture ' f tlJ1+,~4 . •and riahoff-precipitation., -Soils will exhibit increased moisture retention capabilities;when the~SOilsurface _has been loosened with a "ripping tool" thatcreatesa-roughand unevensoll starfa~erandsegd 6ed;;; ~ This treatment will increase seed germination; and, will reduce the amount of'surfiace runoff arSd"soil " erosion.. Rehabilitation on disturbed areas should be done as soon as possible: Drilling in seedalso DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Hams D. Sherman, Executive Di~edor -' WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Tom Burke, Chair. Claire O'Neal, Yice Chair • Robert Bray, Secretary Members, Brad Coors • Jeffrey Crawford • Rick Enstrom • Roy McMally • Richard Ray • Ken Torres Ex Ofido Members, Hams Shennan and John Stulp