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.,. <br />Colorado <br />State <br />University <br />Aepartmeut of Earth Resources <br />Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 <br />• Tel: 970 491-5430 <br />Fai: 970-491-6307 <br />25 Mazch 2001 <br />To: Routt County Commissioners Nancy Stahoviak, Dan Ellison and Doug Monger <br />Subject: Milner Grave[ Pit <br />Dear commissioners, <br />Over the past several months' consultants working for a gravel mining company, citizens <br />who live in the vicinity of the proposed mine neaz Milner, and employees of The Nature <br />Conservancy have called me requesting information on the sensitivity of cottonwood trees <br />to changing water tables. The issue in question is whether cottonwood trees on an active <br />floodplain could be affected by a gravel operation that will dewater the working pits. The <br />application of scientific information can help identify the potential risks of this project to <br />cottonwoods. Two types of scientific information aze requved: hydrological and <br />ecological. Hydrological analyses are necessary to determine whether dewa[ering the pits <br />could result in significant changes in floodplain water tables where cottonwoods grow. <br />The identified hydrologic changes must then be related to current information on <br />cottonwood's sensitivity to water level changes. However, the danger in this approach is <br />that if the information presented is biased in some manner, for example a hydrologic <br />analysis that presents only a best case, or an unrealistic scenario, ii can jeopazdize the <br />meaningful anticipation of effects. <br />My reseazch career focuses on understanding the hydrological and ecological effects of <br />hydrologic changes on floodplains and other wetlands. A brief summary of my current <br />efforts in this realm include: (1) analysis of the effects of Flaming Gorge Dam on riparian <br />forests of the Green River funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, (2) analysis of the loss of <br />beavers and elk overgrazing on riparian ecosystems in Yellowstone National Pazk, (3) <br />analysis of a large water diversion on Colorado River headwater riparian ecosystems in <br />Rocky Mountain National Park, (4) analysis of water transfers in South Park, and (5) <br />riparian restoration projects in Grand Teton National Park, Pecos National Historical <br />Pazk, Clear Creek canyon, the Telluride ski area, and many other sites. I perform research <br />projects for every federal agency that manages water and land resources, several states, <br />