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STATE OF COLORADO BIII Ritter, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Bruce McCloskey, Director 6080 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 Telephone: (303) 297-1192 wildlife.state.co. us January 27, 2007 Ms. Deb E. Gonima Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman St. Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 ~~r`C!1 /rlrl FEB 1 3 2001 Min,r~y aria ~Sa:cty For l~ldlife- For People Re: Notice of 112 Construction Materials -Reclamation Permit Application Consideration - Big "G° Gravel Pit Dear Ms. Gonima, The Division of Wildlife has reviewed the information provided for the Big "G"Gravel Pit, to conduct `Surface extraction of construction materials and reclamation' on approximately 190 acres, and has visited the site on January 22, 2007. The site currently consists of rangeland, and is bordered to the north by the Rocky Ford Highline Canal and the Arkansas River, with similar rangeland surrounding the rest of the property. Wildlife found in the area includes mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, black tailed prairie dogs, turkey, bobwhite quail, raptors including Burrowing Owls, neo-tropical bird species, and various small mammals. The majority of which are located in the riparian corridor of the Arkansas River. The Division of Wildlife offers the following comments and suggestions: • The Arkansas River and Highline Canal is the northern boundary of the 190 acre site. A very small percentage of this riparian habitat type exists in Pueblo County making this area quite important to wildlife. • Special care should be given to protect this critical habitat zone from both direct and indirect disturbance. • The Western Burrowing Owl is a state threatened species and is an inhabitant of short-grass prairie rangeland from approximately March 15 to October 31 of the yeaz. The owls are found inclose proximity to prairie dog towns and special Gaze should be taken to identify active Burrowing Owl nest sites on the property. • Surveys should be conducted between March 15 and October 3l to determine if Burrowing Owls are present. • [fowls are present, activity can proceed in areas greater than 150 feet from the Burrowing Owl burrows with little danger to the owls. Activity closer than 150 feet may endanger the owls. • Native vegetation, including cottonwood trees and willows, located on the property should be disturbed as little as possible so as to lessen any negative impacts to wildlife. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Hams D. Sherman, EzecNive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Jeffrey Crawford, Chair • Tom Burke, Y~ce Chair • Claire O'Neal, Secretary Members, Robert Bray • Brad Coos • Rids Enstrom • Richard Ray • James MrMaly • Ken Torres 6r Olfidc Members, Hams Sherman and John Stulp