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ROCKY MO(IMTAIIY ELK FOCIIYDATIOH Doug Robinson SW Regional Lands Program Manager 1863] West 4th Ave Golden, CO 80401 Phone: (303)216-1953 Fax: (303) 216-2035 Enraii: drabinson(1rmeCorg April 18, 2006 Routt County Board of Comausaioners Darrid R Ellisoq Chairman Daug B. Monger Nancy 7. Stahoviak P.O. Box 773598 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 RE: King Mountain Gravel, I.1.C - AGivity No. PP2004-041 Dear Board of Commissioners: We were notified that the gravel expansion project submitted in Aprt~ 2005 has been resubmitted for review wiW one major change. The gravel operator plans to apply for expansion in 10-acre increments in fiat of one overall expansion plan. 'Out Apri16, 20051etter (below) addresses our concerns which have not changed. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (KNEE) is a conservation organization whose mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. To. accomplish this, we work with private landowners who coagerve their property for the benefit of vin7dlife and future generations. Lt 1995 we accepted a conservation easement Srom on approxinratety 960 aa+es within Egeria Park and owned by Carl L,uppena. Today vre are concerned because the proposed gravel pit expansion site referenced above is approximately 3 miles east of the property oa which we hold the easement. Egeria Park is a unique area that receives little traffic as noted in Susan Warner's letter dated February 27, 2005. Susan is the Area Wildlife Manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). Private landowners in the aria jointly manage their 20,000 atxes between the White River and Routt National Forests. Due to minimal traffic, fbw residences and woridng ranches that are massaged on a landscape scale, the wildlife values within the area are very high. Specifically, elk calving areas are found on and adjacent to the property we have as irtter:eat iq as well as critical winter range and summer range. The CROW has also noted that the area is key to the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and the Greater Sage- Grouse. Botlt occur within the area and both are listed as state Species of Special Concern They have also been petitioned to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for listing as threatened or endangered. The proposed expansion, along with the significant increase in traffic could easily cause a decrease is elk production and force them to seek other locations during seasonal movements. Noxious weeds wiU likely inaease due m greats surface disturbance and the negative impala to Egeria and Smith Creeks Z'd OOY9 9l£ £OE ~tuedwop pue~ oip~oN d8F£0 90 LO un~~j'