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• STATE OF COLORADO ~ III I II III I II IIII III ~ Roy Romer, Governor 999 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNRY EMPLOYER John W. Mumma. Director fi060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216-1000 Telephone: (303)297-1192 RECEIVED Ed T. Gorman SEp 15 1998 Habitat Biologist Colorado Division of W~~gn of Minerals 8 Geology 1204 East Olive Lamar; CO 81052 James C. Stevens Senior Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Mr Stevens: REFER TO Cr0~~0 ~`~®~ '1'OF~ For Wildlife- For People 8 September ] 998 The Colorado Division of Wildlife has reviewed Midwestern Farms Resources Amendment application for Permit No. M-93-059. The CDOW has consulted with the applicants numerous times regarding this project, and appreciates the opportunity to give input on the amendment request. After reviewing both the amendment application and previous reclamation plan, the CDOW believes that the project azea has excellent potential for wildlife habitat development. After conversation with Mr. Greg Lewicki (Lewicki and Associates), Greg expressed the involved parties desires to increase the azea's value to wildlife. To assist with this effort, the CDOW offers the following suggestions. The Division suggests that revising the grass seed mix to include tall growing warm season native grasses such as switchgrass and yellow indiangrass, would result in higher habitat value to wildlife species that are likely to benefit from conservation practices in the immediate area. These grasses remain standing after winter storms, provide critical spring residual cover, which many species of waterfowl and upland species require for nesting habitat, and equally important security cover for many upland species. Preferably, switchgrass and indiangrass would make up a high percentage (>75%), calculated on the basis of pure live seed, of this mix. In addition, broadleaf forts like native sunflowers and legumes such as alfalfa can be added to the mix in small percentages to provide increased diversity in the mix. The CDOW believes that shrub plantings would be of greatest benefit to wildlife if oriented in small (2/10th acre or smaller) thickets. Preferably, in-row spacing between shrubs would be less than eight feet, and between row spacing would be less than ten feet. To increase the likelihood of successful establishment of these plantings, the Division reconunends the use of weed barrier fabric to minimise moisture loss through competition with annual species and evaporation- transpiration. Importantly, thickets that provide the most benefit to upland bird species are composed of numerous short rows as apposed to fewer, longer rows. Numerous species of DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL. RESOURCES, Wade Buchanan, Acting Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION: Chuck Levis, Chair • Mark LeValley, Vice-Chair • Bernard L Black, Secretary, Darattt~ Portia, Mem6a • Philip Jartws, Mrntber • Jarres R. Lag, Member • Amoki Salter, Mentzer • John Singletary, Member