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999 *,T*W�'ItN6 • � III IIIIIIIIIIIII III • S1C1 Indian Peaks Group MAR 2 5 ty Club �ss� ao a!Post Office Boxes7a.y Boulder, CO 80306 7W6o7_y Division of Minerals 6 6eogy Division of Mineral and Geology Colorado Dept . of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St . , Rm 215 Denver CO 80203 3/25/97 Dear Gentlemen; These comments are made on behalf of the Indian Peaks Group of the Sierra Club, which has approximately 3000 members within the City limits of Boulder, and which has been concerned about developments on the Flatirons gravel pit property on the north side of South Boulder Creek. One concern that we have is the end use as the gravel extraction winds down and the site is reclaimed. We have advocated that the land covered by the DMG permit be returned to as natural and biologically productive a condition as possible. Therefore we were concerned when the Flatirons Co. submitted to you an application (file No. 81-302) for a reclamation plan amendment in early March that would reduce the open water acreage by roughly a factor of 10 from 38 to 4 acres. we view this proposal as being in conflict with Flatirons previously statements (made both formally and informally) that the end use would be or include wildlife habitat . The Boulder Valley has a number of old gravel pits that have been reclaimed well enough to have considerable wildlife, esthetic, and recreational value--the Sawhill Ponds Open Space on the northest side of Boulder is certainly one of the more notable examples, and the most recent issue of the Conservator (CDPHE non-point-source program newsletter) contained an inspiring story of a pit reclaimed for wet land values in the vicinity of Marshall, not far south of the Flatirons property. Instead, Flatirons is proposing to ignore an historic opportunity to repair the present industrial aspects of its development in the South Boulder Creek flood plain. It seems to be concentrating on maximizing the degree of fill for unstated purposes (or at least not stated to us) , probably including some sort of dense residential or commercial development that neighboring residents and city-wide groups alike have condemned as being unworthy both of "Boulder' s southern gateway" , unworthy of the planning history of the area, and contrary to the promises the University of Colorado made to nearby residents and the City of Boulder when it purchased the property last year. For these reasons, we ask the DMG and the CMLRB to hold a public hearing on the plan amendment and/or not grant the applicant' s request . Thank you for your consideration of this opinion. S 'n, 9erely;� Kirk Cu 1--n m, Conservation Chair Indian Peaks Group 1842 Canyon Blvd. #204 Boulder CO 80302 recycled paper