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OS~0 X99 :HU 19:17 FAl tr.;~i;,0.-1 <br />.-. .. ------- ~-------- - ~ X001 <br />Y <br />APR - 8 1999 <br />Ref: EPR-&P <br />UNITED STATES <br />Colonel Michael J. Walsh <br />District Engineer <br />Sacramento.DiBtrict, <br />1325 J. Street <br />Corps of Engineers <br />Sacramento, CA 9814-2922 <br />Received <br />APR 1 51998 <br />~bbn of ~F~~ OryiCe <br />M~~z S ~~ <br />RE: public Notice 199875445 <br />Grand Junction .Pipe <br />Dear Colonel Walsh: <br />we have reviewed the referenced public notice for the <br />placement of dredged and fill material in 9.8 acres of wetlands <br />adjacent to the Colorado Aiver in conjunction with a gravel pit <br />operation in Mesa County, Colorado. <br />The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA} is concerned aL~ut <br />the potential adverse impacts to riparian vegetation directly <br />upstream of the gravel pit when the pit is eventually opened to <br />the river 9yetem. We are concerned that significant head nutting <br />will occur and that bank erosion will result in the lose of <br />additional., unmitigated riparian and wetland habitats. In view <br />of the primary federal objective of managing the system for <br />endangered fish species and the potential indirect impacts that <br />may occur with this alternative, the EPA believes that, at a <br />minimum, the project proponent should be required to monitor <br />upstream cross-sections of the river on an annual basis, for aL <br />leasC five years, to document the channel morphology and changes <br />that may occur. A detailed monitoring plan should be submitted <br />to the Carpe for appzoval prior to gravel extraction activities. <br />This information will be critical to future federal, state and <br />local river management permit decisions associated with flood <br />plain gravel extraction operations in t:se valley. <br />ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY <br />REGION 8 <br />888 78TM 9TR8ET • SUITE 500 <br />DENVER, CO 80202.2486 <br />~PAntPd nn Reryc1aA PapN <br />