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STATE OF COLORADO <br />Roy Romer, Govc+rnor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />James B. Ruch, Director <br />8080 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br />711 Independent Avenue <br />Grand Junction, CO 81505 <br />(303) 248-7175 <br />Tom Latham <br />Box 66 <br />Debeque, CO 81630 <br />Decemlx~r 4, 1987 <br />iii iiiiiiiiniiiiii <br />999 <br />REFER i0 <br />el~~ <br />DEC 91987 <br />MINED LAND <br />RECLAMATION bIVISION <br />RE: Proposed Gravel Pit In W!z, SW;, Sectron 9 and E'z, NE!„ SGi„ and SC';, SEq, <br />Sectron 8; T9S; R9"NJ <br />oeBe~w~ Grr.ve.I ~t P~-n+.-~ A/~_ lVl-8/-Osae <br />Dear Mr. Iath~nn: <br />When we originally commented on thrs proposal rn 1981, we were concerned about the <br />cumulative impact of this project and nlhers along the Colorado River on bald eagles. <br />For this reason we recommended that no mrnimg occur between November 1 to April 1, <br />annually, to reduce human disturbances along the river. However, since that time the <br />amount of gravel mining activity along the n ver has subsided considerably. So <br />while your project may have some local impact on bald eagles, that impact should <br />not be significant. Therefore we withdraw our November 1 to April 1 timing restric- <br />tion. <br />Also since we last commented on this project, greater blue herons have established <br />a rookery immediately across the Colorado River from your project area. Your project <br />could impact use of this rookery. The period of concern is for- nesting. and rearing <br />which occurs from March 1 t}u ough hlay 31. The greatest imp~rct that could occur <br />would be for the heron's to abandon the rookery entirely and move elsewhere. This <br />impact would be moderated somewhat by the presence of another active rookery less <br />than one mile downstream. So there should still be herons utilizing the reach of <br />the Colorado River in the vicinity of your project area. For this reason and <br />because we would like to learn what the actual impact of your project will be, we <br />will not recommend timing restx-ictions for protecting greater blue herons. <br />As we have discussed with you in the past, we feel your finished gravel pit could <br />provide an excellent fishery. The fisheries value of the pit can be enhanced with <br />proper reclamation. To accomplish this two measures shodld be included in your <br />reclamation plan: <br />1) Maximize the extent of shoreline edge by creatiny irregularities along <br />the shoreline such as peninsulas, bays, etc. <br />2) Maximize the extent of aquatic substrate by creating irregularities on <br />the bottom. This can be done by creating berms, rockpiles, stump and <br />brushpiles, and piles of old tires. <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Clye~e O. Martz, Executive Director WILDLIFE GOM MISSION, RebeCCa L. Frank, Chan man <br />George VanDenBerg, Vice Chairman Robert I-. Fre~denberger, Secretary Eldon W. Cooper, Member William R. Hegbe rg, Member <br />Dennis Luttrell, Member . Gene 8. Peterson, Member Larry M. Wright, Member <br />