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ROCKY MOCInTAIIY ELK FOCIIYDATiOI~i <br />April 18, 2006 <br />itoutt Courrty Board of Commissioners <br />Daniel R Ellisoq Chairman <br />Doug B. Monger <br />Nancy J. Stahoviak <br />P.O. Box 773598 <br />Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 <br />RE: King Mountain Gravel, LLC - Activity No. PPZ004-041 <br />Dear Board of Commissioners: <br />Doug Robinson <br />SW Regional Lands Program Manager <br />18631 YVest 4th Ave <br />Qolden, CO 80401 <br />Phone: (303) 216-1953 <br />Fax: (303) 216-2035 <br />Email: drobinsonCrrnefofg <br />We were ~tified that the gravel expansion project submitted in Aprr7 2005 has been resubmitted for <br />review with one major change. The gravel operator pleas to apply for expansion in 10-acre increments <br />in lieu of one overall expansion plan. 'Our Apri16, 20051etter (below) addresses our ooncearea which <br />have not changed. <br />The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a coaservatiao organization whose mission is to <br />ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. To. accomplish this, we work with private <br />landowners who conserve their property for the beneSt of we7dlife and .t3tWre generations. In 1995 the <br />accepted a conservatioa easement from on appro~rimately 960 acres within Egesia Park and owned by <br />Carl Luppene. Today we are concerned because the proposed gravel pit expansion site referenced <br />above is approximately 3 miles east of the psnperiy an which we hold the easement. <br />Egeria Park is a unique area that receives little traffic m noted in Susan Warner's letter dated Febneary <br />27, 2005. Susan is the Area Wildlife Manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). Private <br />landowners in the area joirnly manage their 20,000 acres between the White River and Routt National <br />Forests. Due to minimal traffic, few residences and working ranches that are managed on a landscape <br />scale, the wildlife values within the area are very high. Specifically, elk calving areas are fouad on and <br />adjacent to the property we have ao interest in, as well as critical winter range and Sommer range. The <br />CROW has also acted that the area is key to the Cohembian Sharp-tailed Grouse and the Greater Sage- <br />Grouse. Both occur within the area and both are listed as state Species of Special Concern. They have <br />also been petitioned to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for listing as threatened <br />or endangered. <br />The proposed expensing along with the significant increase in traffic could easily cause a decrease in <br />etk production and force deem to seek other locations during seasonal movements. Noxious weeds wiU <br />likely increase due to greater sur~ce disturbance and the negative impacts to Egeria and Smith Creeks <br />Z•d OObB 9LE £0£ ~Cuedwo~ push oiproN dRL:4:(1 9n /n unr <br />