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car h b~ <br />J <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 <br />