2005-02-11_REVISION - M2000016 (2)

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STATE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORn/MIlY EMPLOYER -&rree-McCloskey, ~ Director Soso aruaaway Demrer, Colorado 80216 January 21, 2005 Gregg R Squire ,~ Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 - Gi^isioa ui ...i..,r, . n Z:glop!' For IH/dlrfe- ForPeopk ,/ RE: Lafazge West, Inc., Riverbend Operation, Permit No. M-2000-016, Revision No. AM-1 Dear Mr. Squire: Habitat biologist Mike Sherman and district wildlife manager Sharlene Haeger met with Eric Rechentine of Lafarge West, Inc. at the site of the proposed Riverbend Operation on December 28, 2004. The proposed permit area is 237 acres, of which 120 acres will be disturbed by mining. The site is bounded by Weld County Road 6 to the south, State Highway 52 to the north, the South Platte River to the east, and Weld County Road 23 to the west. The purpose of the project is to excavate sand and gravel resources on portions of the properties in phases, limiting the azea of disturbance at any onetime. Historical use of the site includes agricultural crops and livestock grazing. The South Platte River, Big Dry Creek, and several irrigation ditches flow through the property. Wetlands and associated riparian areas provide valuable habitat for a diversity of wildlife species, some of which are identified in the Wildlife Resources Assessment (WRA) prepared by ERO Resources Corporation. Disturbed upland areas are dominated by irrigated cropland and overgrazed pasture. The NDIS database identifies the South Platte River corridor as a Bald Eagle winter wncentration area. In addition, there is a known Bald Eagle night roost located approximately Ys mile north of WCR 6 along the river in a grove of cottonwoods. DO W raptor biologist Brent Bi~}gs stated that the roost was known to be active as of last winter, end is also being monitored this wintef~°Recommendations regarding winter night roosts are: Activity should be eliminated within r/. mile radius ojwinter roosts between November 1 S and March IS. Ifperiodic visits (such as oil well maintainance work) are required within the buffer zone after development, activity should be restricted to the period between 1000 and 1400 hours from November IS to March /S. Limited restrictions may be necessary out to '/s mile if there is a direct line of sight from the roost to the activities (Craig, 2004). Bald Eagles from a nest approximately 3 miles to the northeast likely use the site as a foraging area. u~' Prairie dog colonies on the site provide an important food source for Bald Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks, all of which are known to occupy the site, Recommended perch buffer for DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, E~cutive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION. PhWP James, Chair. Jeltrey Crawlad, YrcaChatr. Brad Phelps. Secretary Members, Bernard Blade.?om Bralm • Rids FJrafrom. Clans O'N~t•~2obert Shoemaker. KerrTarres Ex OfHdo Mertrbms, Ruese6 George erd Tbn AmerR