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Routt County Phoning Commission April 25, 2005 <br />Routt County Regional Planning Department <br />P.t ~. Box 773749 <br />Stcaroboat Springs, CO 80477 <br />Re: King Mountain Gravel, LLC -Activity No. PP2004-041 <br />Daa Commissioners, <br />i understand that you are considering granting approval to King Mountain Sand & Gravel Mine <br />to expand the mine they purchased from Frank Hewes from its current 10 acres to 341 acres. <br />Access to this minn would be over Routt County Roads Three and Five. <br />At the present time Colorado Open Lands holds a Conservation Easement on a large ranch <br />awned by Alfred Fisher. The easement protects open space, scenic, riperitw, agricultural and <br />wi Iellife conservation values. Our easement and much of the rest of the ranch is significant <br />habitat for a large herd of elk. In addition, much of the area is also critical habitat for Columbian <br />Sharp-tailed Grouse and Gt'eatcr Sage-Grouse as outlined in a letter to you from the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife. <br />Thiv property is one of the largest undivided properties in that area of Routt County and as such <br />is extremely significant in the protection of these conservation values. The landowner has <br />indicated to us that be is seriously considering preserving additional portions of this ranch and its <br />conservation values in the future. This consolidated ownership provides en excx:plionel <br />oppnrhlnity to protect open space, agricultural and wildlife conservation values that we believe <br />arc of great value In the Cvunty, especially as population pressures mount in the i'uture. <br />We believe that the opereNan of a mine of this magnitude in this rural agricultural valley will <br />have a severe negative impact on both wildlife and agriculture, due to fragmentation of ells end u <br />saps gmuve habitat, introduction of noxious weeds, noise and air pollution. We ask that you $ <br />seriously consider limitiug the size of this project to iYs existing permits, and adding wnditions <br />that will limit its negative impact nn the local area. N <br />W <br />J <br />W <br />.SmCCIEly, 0 <br />W <br />m <br />0 <br />N <br />W <br />0 <br />Mo E ing ^ W <br />Land Stewardship Drroetor <br />