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STATE OF COLORADO • • <br />Bill Owens, Governor ~ c.~''A~o <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE ~ ..' ~ <br />AN EOUAL OPP00.TUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Russell George, Director ~ qy <br />6060 Broadway ~}j~~ <br />Denver, Colorado 80216-1000 O~ ~F <br />Telephone. (303)297-1192 <br />For bVildlife- <br />ForPeople <br />November 8, 2000 <br />Received <br />Mr. Nathan ABarton =% - ~' ~ =r <br />Kadrmas Lee 8 Jackson ~ +,~~;~ _ ~ ~ 2~+C1 <br />PO Box 3416 M~F <br />Rapid City, SD 57709-3416 <br />Durango Field Office <br />Subject: Proposed Line Camp Pit, 21944 Hwy. 145, Montezuma County, Co. Division of Ahlnerats & Geology <br />Dear Nathan: - <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this proposal to mine gravel along the Dolores River in Montezuma <br />county. I apologize for the delay. I have visited the site and have the following comments: <br />1. I have been the District Wildlife Manager in this district for a little over 14 years and have never seen elk <br />grazing this parcel. I have observed elk tracks in the snow cross the pasture while migrating to the wintering <br />areas west of Dolores, Co. I have observed a few deer and also wild turkeys on this proposed gravel mining <br />site. Almost every year the pasture is grazed by livestock (horses 8 cattle). The overgrazing you mention in <br />your letter to Chris Kloster (dated 09-25-00) can only be a direct result of livestock grazing. <br />2. Both Bald and Golden Eagles use the large cottonwood trees along the Dolores River for roosting and when <br />hunting for kokanee salmon in the fall and winter months. This occurs from approximately mid September <br />through mid January during the kokanee salmon spawning run, depending on when the river freezes up and <br />how long it stays frozen making the salmon unavailable. As many as 40 eagles have been seen in one day <br />during the salmon run. <br />3. Numerous small birds 8 mammals also use the site for foraging, nesting and raising their young. Fox, coyote, <br />bear and other wildlife species also frequent the proposed site. <br />4. Reclamation should include plantings of cottonwood and native shrubs and grasses that would benefit wildlife <br />species that are closely associated with riparian areas. A visual barrier of tree plantings could screen the site <br />from Hwy. 145, making the area more attractive to wildlife species. <br />5. The ponds left after the project is completed, should have shallow areas to stimulate growth of aquatic <br />vegetation (less than 18 inches deep) and be sloped at 3:1 to make the shoreline safer for people and both <br />wildlife and livestock. <br />With proper planning, this site could be a boon to wildlife and not become an eye sore for travelers on the Scenic <br />By-Way that includes State Highway 145. Thanks again for the opportunity to comment on this proposal. If you <br />have questions on any of this, please don't hesitate to contact me. <br />With best regards, <br />~~lt ~~ ~~ ~~~. <br />Rich Lopez, Distric Wild I e Manager <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />970-882-4911 hm 970-247-0855 wk <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg Watcher, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Chuck Lewis, Chair • Mark LeValley, Vice-Chair • Bernartl Black, Secretary <br />Rick Enstrom, Member • Philip James, Member • Marianna Raftopoulos, Member <br />Arnold Salazar, Member • Robert Shoemaker, Member <br />