2004-06-18_REVISION - M1977153 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Owens, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER enrce McChskey, Acting Director 6060 Broadway Denver, Cdorado 80246 Telephone: (303) 297-1192 Mazch 15, 2004 Antho~ J. Waldron Department of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman St. Room #215 Denver, CO 80203 Re: Permit No. M-1977-153 Dear Mr. Waldron: ForWildl~- ForPeople I have reviewed the reclamation permit amendment application for the above permit. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this amendment. The pem4ittee, Denier Water Department, requests an amendment to a clnrent reclamation permit to combine several parcels of land under one permit and to pursue the reclamation of aIl combined parcels. Little or no further mining will be done. As such, this amendment will have minimal additional impact to wildlife in the azea, but could potentially improve the value of the area to wildlife through reclamation. Water-storage ponds following reclamation will have significanR value to w$dlife if certain characteristics aze employed. The Division of W1'ldlife recommends that the pond have irregular shorelines and that one or more islands of at least 15' x 25' in size per 2 surface acres of water be constructed These islands would provide cover, shelter, and nesting areas to birds and mammals. Shoreline and island slopes should be 4H:1 V, with sorne areas having slopes r» steeper than 8H:1 V. Such shallow areas w471 allow for establishmextt of a variety of types of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate prey for waterfowl This type of shoreline, coupled with a planting of a variety of native wetland plant species w171 allow for a variation in wetlands to be established which w-Il have long term benefits to wildlife, public viewing, and increased aesthetic vah4e. Any trees or shnrbs that must be removed from the site should be left in the pond as fish habitat. The addition of submerged trees and other vegetation and will greatly increase the vahie of the pond to aquatic organi~~. All mature trees on the sites are vahtable and axe prime roosting and nesting sees for raptors and other migratory birds and should be left standing. A~ trees that must be removed should be replaced on a 1-to-1 basis, preferably with trees of similar size. All reclamation should employ all previously recommended practices, especially including revegetation DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russetl George, E~Bne Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Ph~p James, Chair Jeffrey Crawford, ViceChav. Brad Phelps, Secretary Members, Bernard Black • Tom Burke • Rids Erutrom • Claire O'Neal • Robert Shoemaker • Ken Tortes Ex Offido Members, RusseA George and Don Ament