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<br />STATE OF COLORADO
<br />Bill Owens, Governor
<br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
<br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
<br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
<br />Russell George, Director
<br />Southeast Region:
<br />2126 N Weber Street
<br />Colorado Springs, Colorado 807
<br />Telephone: (719)227-5200
<br />July 1,2002
<br />Ms. Angela Bellantoni
<br />Environmental Alternatives, Inc.
<br />113 Latigo Lane #D-324
<br />Canon City, Coloredo 81212
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<br />Re: Mineral Permit for Ranch Land Develooment in Fremont County. Colorado.
<br />Dear Ms. Bellantoni,
<br />For ~ldlife-
<br />For People
<br />The Division has received your request for information regarding the mineral development in Fremont County, Section 24,
<br />Township 20 South, Range 68 West. We have reviewed the information and are familiar with the site. We offer the following
<br />comments and suggestions for your consideration.
<br />The proposed area of mineral development is characterized by short grass prairie ecosystem dissected by limestone
<br />breaks(with pinyon-juniper) and a riparian ewsystem, along Red Creek. The area is primarily used by scaled quail,
<br />pronghom antelope, mule deer, black bear, and mountain lion. The potential habitat exists for black tail prairie dog and swift
<br />fox, which are a state species of cancem. Black tail prairie dog is also a candidate spedes for listing on the Endangered
<br />Species Ad. There is rto known site inventory for native fish on this reach of Red Creek. However, downstream on the
<br />Arkansas River a site inventory was completed that comprised of longnose dace, longnose sucker, fathead minnow, sand
<br />shiner, central stoneroller, and green sunfish. Also, the Arkansas River is known as a winter concentration area for bald
<br />eagles (a federally threatened spedes).
<br />Impacts to wildlife from the proposed mineral development are moderate. The site is adjacent to Red Creek, an intermittent
<br />tributary to the Arkansas River. The Division is concerned about the impacts to the seek and subsequently the Arkansas
<br />River. We recommend that stalk piled soil be placed in an area far enough away from the limestone breaks and are seeded
<br />in order to reduce the risk of soil erosion into Red Creek. Also, we suggest that roads used to access the area be maintained
<br />to alleviate the impacts to the aquatic environment. To further reduce the impacts to wildlirfe, we recommend mining in small
<br />increments and redaiming site before moving to a new area.
<br />We recommend redaiming the site for pronghom antelope and scaled quail. This will indude the use of a native, short grass
<br />prairie seed mix with some added shrubs for cover. spedes associated with short grass prairie indude but not limited to;
<br />blue grams, side oats grams, buffalo grass, sand dropseed, little bluestem, groundsel, cholla (candelabra cactus),
<br />rebbitbrush, and four-wing sattbush. We suggest working with local USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
<br />professionals for final approval on seed mix. Finally, the disturbance of the exjsting vegetation resulting from mineral
<br />development will lead to the establishment of noxious weeds. The Division recommends a weed control plan to reduce the
<br />impacts to surrounding habitats.
<br />The Division appredates the opportunity for input Should you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
<br />Sincerely,
<br />C
<br />Casey Cooley, Habitat Biologist
<br />Cc: Casey Westbrook, CDOW
<br />Greg Polidry, CDOW
<br />DEPARTMENt-OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg E. Wakircr, 5keartive Director
<br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Bernard L Black, Jr., Chaimran • Ridk Ensirom, Vioe-Chaimran • Philip James, Seaetary
<br />Members, Tom Burke • Mark LeValley • Marianna Raltopoubs • Robert Shoemaker • Olive Vaklez
<br />Ex-Offido Members. Greg E. Wakiter and Don Mrerrt
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