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:~ <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNnY EMPLOYER <br />Russell George, Dired« <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Cd«atlo 80216 <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br />151 East 16`" Street <br />Durango, CO 81301 <br />October 7. 2002 <br />Robert Bowie <br />La Plata County Planning Department <br />1060 East 2r1D Avenue <br />Durango, CO 81301 <br />RE: JOHNSON CLASS II GRAVEL PIT FOR WESTSIDE GRAVEL <br />Dear Mr. Bowie, <br />For Wildlife- <br />For Pea~lc <br />District Wildlife Manager Pat Hayden reviewed the gravel pit project mentioned above and would like to offer the <br />following comments for your consideration. In reviewing the project description for gravel pit, the Colorado Division <br />of Wildlife noticed that the appl'ICant and his agent had given special attention to the issue of controlling and <br />monitoring the invasion of no>aous weeds within this projects guidelines. This is important to consider with this type <br />of land use activity because gravel mining can and will disturb a lot of area with equipment that will be coming in <br />from areas that may have noldous weed problems. However, the CDOW noticed little mention about possible <br />impacts to the wildlife in the area during the construction and operation of this gravel pd and reclamation to the site <br />during construction and after the mining is completed. <br />The gravel pit is proposed in an area that has been mapped and designated by the Colorado Division of Wildl'Ife <br />(CDOW) as winter range for both deer and elk. Some deer, however, will stay in the area on a year-round basis. <br />Black bears and mountain lions are also known to inhabit the area and can be seen at various times of the year, <br />depending on availability of natural food sources in the spring, summer and fall months. In order to reduce and <br />prevent possible impacts to and conflicts with wildlife, especially those species mentioned above, the CDOW would <br />recommend the following proactive measures to help reduce possible impacts and conflicts. <br />First, deer and elk will continue to use and winter in this area in the fall, winter and spring despite the development <br />and construction of this gravel pit. These big game species could concentrate in and around this area for early in <br />the year and for long periods of time depending on the weather conditions in the upper portions of the San Juan <br />Basin. Severe winter conditions will force deer and elk down into the lower portions of the San Juan Basin. If <br />severe winter conditions occur and persist for long periods of time during the operation of this gravel pit, the CDOW <br />then strongly recommends the following measures to help reduce stress on deer and elk wintering in and around <br />this area. <br />Any major acthrity, constructon and mining to occur should be planned between March 15th and December 15th <br />to help reduce the impact and harassment to deer and elk. The CDOW also recommends that the applicant make <br />all reasonable attempts to minim¢e all activity on the site dulinta the winter period between December 15th to <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg Walther, E~cu~e Dtector <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Ride Enstrom, Cha'rman • Robert Shoemaker, Via+Chairman • Marianna Raftopoubs, Secretary <br />Members, Bernard Btatlc • Tom Burke .Jeffrey Crawford • Phip James • Brad Phe~s • Ofne Valdez <br />Ex-Otfico Members, Greg WaEher and Don Ament <br />