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Oct 04 04 02:39p DIVISIOn OF WILDLIFE 970 461 4008 p.2 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES / <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE v <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Bruce McCloskey, Director <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br />October 3, 2004 <br />Erica Crosby <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />RECEIVEQ <br />ACT 0 4 200 <br />~iv1s14n of Mis-~ta-s & Geology <br />For ~ldlife- <br />For People <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />:/ ~/ <br />RE: CEME,~,;Iric. Lyons Quarry, Permit No. M-1977-208, Wildlife Resource Assessment Report <br />~---- - <br />Dear Ms. Crosby: <br />District Wildlife Manager Shazlene Haeger reviewed the Wildlife Resource Assessment Report <br />submitted by Michael Figgs of LREP on behalf of CEMEX, Inc. for the Lyons Quarry and discussed the <br />report with"DWM Lassiter. The report lists species of concern that are known to occur on the site: Bald <br />Eagle, Ferrugir},ous Hawk, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, and Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse. According to <br />NDIS, the site occurs in winter range for the Bald Eagle, overall range for White-tailed Deer, and <br />summer and winter range for Mule Deer. The report acknowledges that the water in "C" Pit presents a <br />potential hazard to wildlife that may come in contact with it, due to high selenium levels and pH of =- <br />approximately 12. <br />Upon reviewing.mitigation options outlined in the report, DWMs Haeger and Lassiter concur with the <br />recommendation "that removal of the water, and prevention of further excess accumulation of water in <br />the pit, be implemented as a long term solution, and that the most viable option or options be pursued <br />immediately and with diligence." They acknowledge that this optiori will likely take two to three years to <br />implement, and. that the potential threat to waterfowl and shorebirds will decline as the water level is <br />reduced. <br />In the short term,, the minor mitigation option to install an 8' gate on the access road and to place 8' <br />construction, fence along the leading edge of the bank is recommended to prevent deer from entering the <br />azea and possibly contacting the water or falling into the pit. Deer aze known to occasionally fall into <br />steep concrete-lined canals; the same hazard exists at "C" Pit. It is not known if the toxicity of the water <br />reduces the attraction to wildlife seeking a water scarce. <br />During the site visit, DWM Lassiter voiced a concern that a plan for "A" Pit is necessary to address <br />toxicity that maybe detected during future monitoring efforts, since wildlife is known to use that pond. <br />Since the report pertains only to "C" Pit, this issue still needs to be addressed. <br />i <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Executive Director <br />W ILDLIFE COMMISSION, Philip James, Chair. Jeffrey Crawford, Vice-Chair• Brad Phelps, Secretary <br />Manherc Ro.nani RIerL. Tnm Rndc. RirL G..dmm . r9nr,r. rvl.f....l - R..~...w ch........J....- V.... r......- <br />