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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Owens, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Russell George, Director 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 Telephone: (303)297-1192 151 East 16'" Street Durango, CO 81301 October 7, 2002 Robert Bowie La Plata County Planning Department 1060 East 2ND Avenue Durango, CO 81301 RE: JOHNSON CLASS II GRAVEL PIT FOR WESTSIDE GRAVEL Dear Mr. Bowie, For Wildlrfe- For People District W ildlife Manager Pat Hayden reviewed the gravel pit project mentioned above and would like to offer the following comments for your consideration. In reviewing the project description for gravel pit, the Colorado Division of W ildlife noticed that the applicant and his agent had given special attention to the issue of controlling and monitoring the invasion of noxious weeds within this project's guidelines. This is important to consider with this type of land use activity because gravel mining can and will disturb a loi of area with equipment that will be coming in from areas that may have noxious weed problems. However, the CDOW noticed little mention about possible impacts to the wildlife in the area during the construction and operation of this gravel pit and reclamation to the site during construction and after the mining is completed. The gravel pit is proposed in an area that has been mapped and designated by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) as winter range for both deer and elk. Some deer, however, will stay in the area on a year-round basis. Black bears and mountain lions are also known to inhabit the area and can be seen at various times of the year, depending on availability of natural food sources in the spring, summer and fall months. In order to reduce and prevent possible impacts to and conflicts with wildlife, especially those species mentioned above, the CDOW would recommend the following proactive measures to help reduce possible impacts and conflicts. First, deer and elk will continue to use and winter in this area in the fall, winter and spring despite the development and construction of this gravel pit. These big game species could concentrate in and around this area for early in the year and for long periods of time depending on the weather conditions in the upper portions of the San Juan Basin. Severe winter conditions will force deer and elk down into the lower portions of the San Juan Basin. If severe winter conditions occur and persist for long periods of time during the operation of this gravel pit, the CDOW then strongly recommends the following measures to help reduce stress on deer and elk wintering in and around this area. Any major activity, construction and mining to occur should be planned between March 15th and December 15th to help reduce the impact and harassment to deer and elk. The CDOW also recommends that the applicant make all reasonable attempts to minimize all activity on the site during the winter period between December 15th to DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg Wak:her, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Rick Enstrom, Chairman • Robert Shoemaker, Vice-Chainnan • Marianna Raftopoulos, Secretary Members, Bernard Black • Tom Burke Jeffrey Crawford Philip James • Brad Phelps • Olive Valdez Ex-Offico Members, Greg Watcher and Don Ament