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ueiiaiue os:au r.Lt a7u5271897 HIGH COLTTRY NEx ¢jpy <br /> <br />• • <br />clrentnd Currently exists in the rivrf next to the proposed mine. How would the <br />~pticantlDMG upttotd battle stability if the high flows beutme realiry7 Unstable banks <br />combined wish such high flowscotffd lead to greatly increased river velocity and a possible <br />chmge ID the diroc[ion of the river that would be devastating to downstream landowners. <br />IA QUtrts of roclantation, it is our understanding that the applicant intends to donate this land <br />' tnDrlea in the form of a park, once mining is cx>mplere in approximately 30 years. It is our <br />pneitieat tbatt a riverside Qark with duck ponds is not an adequate replacement for the Ices of <br />a e~plex end diverse ppi~ece of riparian wildlife habitat. We request that the gcxil of <br />iBdet~titn he a txmplete restoration of the wetlands habitat and we support the DOW's <br />temmtuendation that this include transplanting uppropriate vegetation. The proposed <br />vegehadon rt~lacernent is inappropnale to the riparian habitaC consisting solely of dryland <br />gr~ses whew there ehotild be sedges, rushes and cattails. In addition, the DMG should go <br />heyoed simply grading the area in 2 tot and 3 to 1 slopes to require a more natural and <br />eonlctgscally appropriate design that includes shallow and deep watts habitat. To that end, <br />„ wb salt suggest that biting an independent party or team including an environmental <br />-eagitreer, biologist and ecologist, rraineti in habitat replacement would be an appropriate. <br />„ . Cardlueaoe Pauic could perhaps serve as a model in this pursuit. <br />Ia regtAds to the plan W allow the river to "reclaim itself' in Phase il, we Find this <br />tear~nunda6® ittapprvpriaie. Without vegetaton in place, it lrrves the bank prone to <br />i~~atitxt by trotgous wtxds and son-native spxies like russian olives and lamansk <br />wYo®seeds travel in the river and tend to outcvmpete native vegetation if given the <br />uppnr4laity. The bank should be stabilized and planted with plugs of native vegetation. <br />Also, ae expect that the nxluinements under section 4114 of the Clean Water Act, requiring <br />wetlatds replacemeal prior to construction disnubance be upheld. <br />Sur oluade of die spociCics of this proposed mine and reclamation plan is an underlying <br />i9sue drat desCrves DMG's allenlicm. AS you may k~tow, there is curtcndy a cloud on the <br />oaunty land plaits. Local residents and the Delta county commissioner ate wondering how <br />tl}q y 40 tterrs contiguous to the wetlands and riparian art discussed above <br />' owlveU b~eea sold to Cttand Jtutction Pipe and Supply for the purpose of gravel mining <br />~ t$e first place. Last year the previous owner requested and was granted by the Delta <br />ctL1p't~(y C~tmiasit7~ets peRnanent agricultural status for this 1•nnd, saying he wanted it to <br />" '~ glean faever"• App~atently, this request was ]eft out (possibly illegally) by the <br />' county land sttrweyor when Tittaliting the land plaits. The commissioners ate currently <br />oopiiderbog going w cart[ to eddrevs and remedy this mista}ae. With this cloud on the <br />plaUs. the appli[mtt may not acnrelly, have the legal right to mine in rltat area. Based on this <br />tdtttatitat, we fad the DMCt shwld delay processing this permit application and issuing a <br />deoitaoa un61 after this land use discrepancy is resolved. <br />We a~tpteciate the oppontmity to comment on this permit application and thank you for the <br />lime you have COrnmrtted to educrdng us and the public about the project. <br />Sincerely. <br />'Para 1'horoas <br />R-B'l~lC C7arrmttttity Organizer <br />