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Riparian Areas and Wetland Areas <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife recommends that mining should take place at least 300 feet from the edge of <br />riparian vegetation in wetland areas. This will help minimize impacts to wildlife in these wetland areas by <br />maintaining the habitat in these wetland areas and the vegetation will serve as a barrier from noise and other <br />disturbances. Wetlands have an important ecologic and economic significance, and provide a great benefit to plants <br />and wildlife, Declines in many wildlife species can be attributed to the decline in wetland habitat upon which they <br />depend. In fact, 26% of vertebrates in Colorado depend on wetlands for a portion of their life cycle, and a majority <br />of these wetland dependent species are migratory birds. (Colorado Wetlands Initiative 1997-2000) <br />Mining Recommendations <br />This area currently provides valuable habitat to many wildlife species and wildlife usage may decrease with <br />increased disturbance. During mining, impacts to wildlife can be reduced by allowing mature cottonwoods to <br />remain standing. This will maintain habitat as well as ensure bank stabilization and other positive benefits. <br />Minimizing night mining activities may benefit wildlife by enabling them to maintain use of the area as a <br />movement corridor or hunting grounds. <br />Once mining is complete, all ponds created by reclamation efforts could potentially have significant value to wildlife. <br />To maximize this benefit, the Division of Wildlife recommends that the pond be designed to include irregulaz <br />shorelines and one or more islands to provide cover, sheher, and nesting areas. Islands should be at least 15' x 25' in <br />size per 2 surface acres of water. Shoreline and island slopes should be graded to a ratio of 4 horizontal to 1 vertical <br />distance, with some areas having slopes no steeper than 8 horizontal to 1 vertical distance. Such shallow areas will <br />allow for establishment of a variety of types of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate prey for waterfowl. <br />Planting a variety of native weHand plant species at appropriate locations will provide a diverse wetland habitat that <br />will have long temt benefits to wildlife, public viewing, and increased aesthetic value. The lake bed itself can be <br />enhanced by varying the contours and structure. For example, the addition of downed riees and shrubs can provide <br />habitat and cover to aquatic wildlife. <br />In areas surrounding ponds (or if no pond or wetland is planned) the Division of W ildlife encourages revegetation <br />with native riparian or prairie gasses including tall wheat grass, intermediate wheat grass, switch grass. Trees and <br />shrubs that should be considered in the revegetation effort aze plains cottonwood, green ash, box elder, native plum, <br />and willow, <br />Burrowing Owls <br />Burrowing Owls, a species listed on the Colorado Threatened Species List, rely on prairie dog burrows as critical <br />nesting habitat. As a migratory species and a raptor, both the USFWS and the CDOW protect Burrowing Owls. <br />The species is considered primarily a summer resident of Colorado and a casual winter resident on the eastern <br />plains of Colorado. In winter, they are found from Texas and New Mexico down into Argentina. The critical <br />nesting period for Burrowing Owls occurs between March 1 and October 31. During this time breeding females <br />occupy burrows, generally in active prairie dog towns, to nest and fledge their young. Females tend to raise one <br />brood per year. Nesting owls will return to the same prairie dog town to nest year after year unless the town is <br />destroyed. When confronted with human disturbance near nest sites, Burrowing Owls abandon the nest. Efforts to <br />relocate nesting owls have generally proven to be ineffective. If Burrowing Owls are found on site, it is <br />recommended that a buffer of at least 150 feet around the active burrow not be disturbed if construction takes <br />places between March 1 and October I. <br />Prairie Dogs <br />The presence ofBlack-tailed Prairie Dogs gives rise to several potential concerns from an ecological view as well <br />as the public and social concerns with prairie dogs and development.. This species, more than any other, seems to <br />