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g r m chin STATE OF COLORADO Bill Owens, Governor Jo DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EOUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 8rvice McCloskey, DirecOor 6060 Broadway Denver, Cokxado 80216 Telepholro: (303) 297-1182 March 16, 2006 Division of Minerals and Geology Dept. of Natural Resources Attn: Mt. G. Russell Means 13 ] 3 Sherman St., Rm. 215 Denver, CO 80203 ~CN~6/ 1M -! 9~9-/03 RCC~i'VLD 'MAR ~ ~ 2006 !/ Drvyipr, of Minerals and Geology RE: Land Use Comments for the Proposed Diana Watson/Amick Gravel Pit Conversion Application Mt. Means: For ~Idlife- ForPeopk This letter is in response to the reclamation permit conversion application from Diana K. Watson, for conversion of an existing 110 gravel pit operation (limited impact construction materials permit) to a 112 gravel pit operation (regular construction materials permit). The proposed gravellsand/stonepft expansion is located at T1N, R93-94W, Sections 36 and 31, in Rio Blanco County, Colorado approximately 2-3 miles southeast of Meeker. There are two to three intermittent drainages from the general area which all drain to the north from the proposed expansion site and eventually converge with the White River. The owner is wishing to expand their current gravel pidmining operation from 9.42 acres to approximately 70.9 acres. The owners anticipate that the 3 separate mining phases would be completed in approximately 38 years. This proposed conversion is a relatively large disturbance over along-period of time which potentially could pose rather serious wildlife related impacts, depending on how it is implemented and reclaimed after mining phases are completed. The proposed site has relatively shallow soils which are subject to erosion if plant cover is removed and adequate reclamation is not implemented post-mining. Vegetation on the proposed site indicates past disturbances and/or cultivation which have essentially removed all native shrubs (i.e., sagebrush) from the plant community. The area that is proposed to be mined is basically an open, flat toppedmesa/ridge that currently has very little vegetative diversity as compared to adjacent undisturbed site. Upland sagebrush plant communities are incredibly diverse, productive, and irportant wildlife habitats for a wide variety of species including but certainly not limited to mule deer, elk, and sage grouse. Therefore, any loss, disturbance, or conversion of these critical sagebrush steppe communities is of great concern to the Colorado Division of Wildlife. A variety of wildlife species occur on or near the proposed Watson/Amick pit expansion. No known threatened or endangered wildlife species are found on the proposed pit expansion site. The proposed site is likely most important for mule deer and elk winter range and also at least historically/potentially for northern sage grouse habitat. We would recommend that a seasonal closure on the mining operation during the critical winter/early spring period (January 1 to March 31) would also mitigate some of the stress/disturbance to winteringdeer/elk or sage grouse on or near the proposed site, if possible. The proposed pit expansion location falls within Division of Wildlife (CDOW) designated a concentration area, winter range and severe winter range for mule deer, elk, and sage grouse. This site has traditionally been sage goose habitat and there are records of nearby breeding grounds (leks) which are no longer active, likely as a result of DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russetl George, Executive Duectw WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Jeffrey Crawford, Chair • Tom Burke, ~ce Chair • Ken Torres, Secretary