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iJ <br />~~. .STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE ~ <br />AN EQUAL OPPORiUNnY EMPLOYER <br />Russell George, Director <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br />Apri12, 2003 <br />Chris LaRue <br />Case Manager <br />Adams County Dept. of Planning and Development <br />4955 E. 74`h Ave. <br />Commerce City, CO 80022-1535 <br />lt^ I'- For Wildlife- <br />APR 2 3 2003 ForPeaple <br />VED <br />MAY 0 5 2G.:. <br />of~ RECE/IVED..~9Y <br />MAYUS~ ~' <br />RE: EXG2003-00001 / <br />Cooley Reservoir/Fulton Wildlife Area ~/ <br />Dear Chris, <br />Divitian ~f MlneraM and CeololTY <br />AM-1 ~ <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Conditional Use Permit at Cooley Reservoir. The <br />following letter, combined with the Colorado Division of Wildlife Mined Land Wildlife <br />StatementBvaluation dated November 6, 1448, constitute the comments of the Division of Wildlife <br />regazding the mine site. <br />The most valuable wildlife habitat on the pazcel is near the S. Platte River and along the ditch. There aze <br />many lazge, mature cottonwood trees that provide nesting and roosting cover for a variety of bird species <br />along the ditch. Bald eagles have been observed in the area, using these cottonwoods as roost sites. <br />Therefore, I strongly recommend that a 150' buffer be placed around the river, and that there is minimal <br />disturbance near the ditch. This will result in a waterway that will provide movement corridors, as well <br />as maintaining the cottonwood trees in the azea. These trees aze a valuable resource, and should be left <br />standing. <br />Reclamation in the area will be key in the opportunity to produce valuable wildlife habitat following the <br />completion of mining. All ponds created for reclamation could potentially have significant value to wildlife <br />if certain chazacteristics are employed. I recommend that the pond have irregulaz shorelines and that one or <br />more islands of at least 15' x 25' in size per 2 surface acres of water be constructed. These islands would <br />provide cover, shelter, and nesting areas. <br />Shoreline and island slopes should be 4H:1 V, with some areas having slopes no steeper than 8H:1 V. Such <br />shallow areas will allow for establishment of a variety of types of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate prey for <br />waterfowl. This type of shoreline, coupled with a planting of a variety of native wetland plant species will allow <br />for a variation in wetlands to be established which will have long term benefits to wildlife, public viewing, and <br />increased aesthetic value. <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg E. Walcher, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Rick Enstrom, Chair • Philip James, Vice-Chair • Olive Valdez, Secretary <br />Members, Bernard Black • Tom Budce • Jeffrey Crawford • Brad Phelps • Robert Shoemaker • Ken Torres <br />Ex-Officio Members, Greg E. Walcher and Don Ament <br />