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<br />STATE OF COLORADO ~ ~ n , j
<br />Bill Owens, Governor w
<br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
<br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
<br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
<br />Bruce McCloskey, Director
<br />6060 Broadway
<br />Denver, Colorado 80216
<br />Telephone: (303j 297-1192
<br />Date: April 11, 2006 ~~~" '
<br />To: Division of Minerals and Geology t~R ~ 3
<br />Department of Natural Resources
<br />1313 Sherman St, Room 215 ' plyisioo of Mlneraband Gaofog7
<br />Denver, CO, 80203
<br />RE: Kiowa County, Barnett Pit, Permit No. M-1991-074 - -
<br />For Widdlife-
<br />For People
<br />Dear Mr. Rowe;
<br />Thank you for providing the opportunity to comment on the proposed expansion of the Kiowa County,
<br />Barnett Pit, Permit No. M-1991-074.
<br />The site is chazacterized as short grass prairie with primarily buffalo grass, side oats gramma, prickly pear,
<br />and kochia for vegetation. Some of the areas that haven't been worked for several years are already naturally re-
<br />establishing vegetation.
<br />Wildlife found on the site includes homed lark, vesper sparrow, western meadowlazk, prairie falcon, red
<br />tailed hawk, black tailed jackrabbit, western box turtle, prairie rattle snake, western coach whip, eastern fence
<br />lizard, coyote, deer mice, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer.
<br />There are no listed threatened or endangered species that aze known to occur on the site. Two species of
<br />special concern that could possibly be found at this location include ferruginous hawk and mountain plover.
<br />Neither species was found on site during a recent visit, nor was evidence of a plover nest found.
<br />The Division would expect impacts to the local wildlife resource to be minimal given that this is an
<br />existing pit proposed for expansion.
<br />Because the azea does look like mountain plover nesting habitat, however, we would recommend that new
<br />surface removals be limited to June 1 to Mazch 15. The time from Mazch 15 to June 1 is the primary nesting time
<br />for mountain plover. This would not limit excavation in areas already disturbed.
<br />We would recommend that topsoil be separated, stockpiled, and seeded with a temporary seed mix until
<br />needed for reclamation. We would also recommend the site be reseeded with a native grass, forb, and shrub
<br />mixture, fenced to exclude livestock, and monitored for possible establishment of noxious weeds until proper
<br />reclamation is achieved and bond released.
<br />Once again thank you for the chance to comment on this expansion. Please feel free to contact Steve
<br />Keefer at (719) 940-3586 or by calling the Lamar Area Office at (719) 336-6600 should you have any questions or
<br />require additional information.
<br />Sincerely'''
<br />Travis Black - •, ~ " -
<br />Area Wildlife Manager' ~ ,.'',;cis - - - . .. _. ,, , ,... -
<br />Colorado Divisiori of Wildlife .'' ~- •-
<br />Co. 81052 - . , . ,.
<br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Executive Director
<br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Jeffrey Crawford, Chair. Tom Burke, Vce Chair • Claire O'Neal, Secretary
<br />Members, Robert Bray • Rick Enstrom • Philip James • Richard Ray • Robert Shoemaker • Ken Torres
<br />Ex Offiao Members, Russell George and Don Ament
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