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STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <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: (303) 297-1192 <br />Nelson Selcer <br />Jackson County Road and Bridge Supervisor <br />188 Grant Street <br />Walden, Co 80480 <br />Dear Mr. Selcer, <br />For Wilddffe- <br />ForPeople <br />On behalf of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, I thank you for the opportunity to provide inpitt into the expansion of the <br />Riley gravel pit located in Jackson County. <br />District Wildlife Manager Josh Dilley has reviewed the map you sent and made a visit to the site and has provided the <br />following comments. <br />The area is home to many species of wildlife including coyotes, badgers, songbirds, and a variety of raptors. Our wildlife <br />resource maps indicate that this area serves as significant habitat for five species of wildlife. These species are: Greater Sage <br />Grouse (overall range, brood rearing area), Pronghorn (overall range), Elk (winter range), Mule Deer (summer range, <br />migration route) and White-tailed Prairie Dogs (overall range). These species depend on the sagebrush ecosystem during <br />various seasons of the year. <br />One.species,of concern is the Greater Sage Grouse. The nearest Greater Sage Grouse lek is approximately three-quarters of a <br />mile to the north of the site. Due to the topography of the site and the land between the pit and the lek, there should not be <br />any impacts to the breeding birds. <br />The expansion of the Riley grave] pit will eliminate several acres of sagebmsh habitat and displace wildlife from the site for <br />the period of development, however, sufficient habitat exists adjacent to the proposed site to support the wildlife displaced by <br />the gravel pit operation. <br />If the site is to be fenced you may wish to consider a fence that would allow wildlife to pass through easily, while keeping <br />domestic livestock out of the area of operation. A four-wire fence would be sufficient. A fence that would accomplish these <br />tasks would consist of a smooth top and bottom wire with wire spacing (From top to bottom) of 42 inches, 30 inches, 23 <br />inches, and 16 inches. The two middle wires could be barbed. <br />Successful reclamation with native vegetation would return the area to useable wildlife habitat at the cornpletion of gravel <br />development. <br />Based upon on site observations and current wildlife habitat data, the Division of Wildlife does not anticipate any significant <br />impacts to wildlife on this gravel pit site, nor does it find any threatened or endangered species which would be affected by <br />this gravel pit construction. <br />Smcerely, / <br />Susan Werner ,,, .. <br />Area Wildlife Manager~~~ ~ - ~ ~-~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~" ~ ~ ~~~ ~ .~~ ~~~ <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Philip James, Chair • Jeffrey Crawford, Vice-Chair • Brad Phelps, Secretary <br />Members, Bernard Black • Tom Burke • Rick Enstrom • Claire 0' Neal • Robert Shoemaker •~Ken Torres <br />Ex Officio Members, Russell George and Don Ament <br />