2004-03-15_REVISION - M1977153 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Owens, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE ~~ ~`~ ~`\ AN EOUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Bruce McCloskey, Acting Director 6080 Broadway Denver, Cokxado 80216 Telephone: (303) 297-1192 March 15, 2004 i Anthony J. Waldron Department of Minerals and Geology ~ ,~ 1313 Sherman St. Room #215 ~~~ . U Denver, CO 80203 Re: Permit No. M-1477-153 Dear Mr. Waldron: Q~ ~ For l~ldlife- For People I have reviewed the reclamation permit amendment application for the above permit. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this amendment. The pemrittee, Denver Water Department, requests an amendment to a current reclamation perTnit to combine several parcels of land under one permit and to pursue the reclamation of all combined parcels. Little or no further mining will be done. As such, this amendment will have minimal additional impact to wildlife in the area, but could potentially improve the value of the area to wildlife through reclamation. Water-storage ponds following reclamation will have significant value to wildlife if certain characteristicsarc employed. The Division of Wildlife 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 rnarrnttals. Shoreline and island slopes should be 4H:1 V, with some areas having slopes no steeper than 8H:1 V. Such shallow areas will allow for establishment of a variety of types of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate prey for waterfowl This type of shore}ine, coupled with a planting of a variety of native wetland plant species will allow for a variation in wetlands to be established which will have long term benefits to wildlife, public viewing, and increased aesthetic value. Any trees or shrubs 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 irrc;tease the value of the pond to aquatic organisms. All mature trees on the sites are valuable and ate prime roosting and nestitrg sites for raptors aril other migratory birds and should be left standing. Arty 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, RusseO George, Executioe D'cedor WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Philp James, Chair • Jeffrey Crawford, Vice-Chair • Brad Phelps, Secretary Members, Bernard Bfxlc • Tam Burke • Ride Enstrom • Clakee O'N~I • Robert Shoemaker • Ken Torte., Ex OfriCio Mambas, Russell George antl Don Amer)