2006-06-12_REVISION - M1978314 (3)

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ROCKY MOZII~ITAII~I ELK FOCII`IDATIOI`I Doug Robinson SW Regional Lands Program Manager 18631 West 4th Ave Golden, CO 80401 Phone: (303) 216-1953 Fax: (303) 216-2035 Email: drobinson(u?rmeforg April 18, 2006 Routt County Board of Commissioners Daniel R Ellison, Chairman Doug B. Monger Nancy J. Stahoviak P.O. Box 773598 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 RE: King Mountain Gravel, LLC -Activity No. PP2004-041 Dear Board of Commissioners: We were notified that the gravel expansion project submitted in Apri12005 has been resubmitted for review with one major change. The gravel operator plans to apply for expansion in 10-acre increments in tieu of one overall expansion plan. 'Ow Apri16, 20051etter (below) addresses ow concerns which have not changed. The Rocky Moumain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is a conservation organization whose mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. To, accomplish this, we work with private landowners who conserve their property for the benefit of wt7dlife and future generations. In 1995 we accepted a conservation easement from on approximately 960 acres within Egeria Park and owned by Carl Luppens. Today we are concerned because the proposed gravel pit expansion site referenced above is approximately 3 miles east of the property oa which we hold the easement. Egeria Park is a unique area that receives little traffrc as noted in Susan W erner's letter dated February 27, 2005. Susan is the Area Wildlife Manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). Private landowners in the area jointly manage their 20,D00 acres between the White River and Routt National Forests. Due to minimal traffic, few residences and working ranches that are managed on a landscape scale, the wildlife values within the area are very high. Specifically, elk calving areas are found on and adjacent to the property we have as interest in, as well as critical winter range and summer range. The CDOW has also noted that the area is key to the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and the Greater Sage- Grouse. Both occur within the area and both are listed as state Species of Special Concern. They have also been petitioned to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for Listing as threatened or endangered. The proposed expansion, along with the significant increase in traffic could easily cause a decrease in elk production and force them to seek other locations during seasonal movements. Noxious weeds will likely increase due to greater surface disturbance and the negative impacts to Egeria and Smith Creeks Z'd OObB 9t£ £0£ /(uedwo~ pue~ oiproN dgt:£0 90 LO unl~