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STATE OF COLORADO <br />plchertl D. Lamm, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ~p~ARAp~ <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE ~ay <br />• Jack R. Grieb, Director ~ J <br />606-•$iSad3a~1 sroN OF ~,0" <br />D6TaTS~ BPtT'S'( - 92 ; <br />711 Independent Avenue <br />Grand Junction. CO 81501 <br />July 23, 1980 <br />Mr. Dale Thompson <br />Reclamation Specialist <br />Colowyo Coal Co. <br />5731 State Highway 13 <br />Meeker, Colorado 81641 <br />Dear Dale: <br />Sage grouse leks and golden eagle nests have been identified on the en- <br />closed 7.5' USGS map which you supplied for this purpose. I have retained <br />the blue line "General Mine Map" for my files. <br />Note that the golden eagle nest complex labeled "MF-20"leas been in- <br />active since 1975 while "MF-63" has been active since 1975. <br />The general area immediately north of the mine and west of Milk Creek <br />• is a very important sage grouse area. The leks on the enclosed map sup- <br />port a strutting-nesting complex and there is a large sage grouse brood/ <br />concentration area north of the strutting/nesting complex. There is a <br />strong possibility of sage grouse use in and adjacent to the mine plan <br />area. <br />There is a slight chance that sharp-tail could be present in your <br />area of interest although I know of no sharp-tail distribution west of S.H, <br />13. <br />Blue grouse are distributed throughout the Danforth Hi11s and are <br />probably present in your mine plan area. Primary blue grouse range; how- <br />ever, is generally south of the mine permit area. <br />The entire Colowyo mine complex is within deer and elk winter range <br />and critical winter range. Substantial numbers of elk winter in the Axial <br />Basin and on or directly adjacent to Colowyo mine property. High winter <br />densities of approximately 20 elk/sq. mile are common in this area. Deer <br />winter densities can also be expected Co be about 20/sq. mile. Both <br />deer and elk densities can be locally found in excess of these Figures. <br />I also have unsubstantiated reports of elk calving in the general <br />vicinity of your mine. Any aspen pocket with a dense bruslTy understory <br />and nearby available water should be suspect. IJe are not in a position to <br />make a statement regarding the relative impact of mining on elk calving <br />\J <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Harris Sherman, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMA115510N, Michael Higbee, Chairman <br />Wilbur Redden, Vice Chairman Sam Caudill, Secretary Jean K. Tool, Member • Vernon C. Williams, Member <br />!z mes $m0h. Memh~. nnn old FPrnar:d~:r Memh?r 7lc hard Divelbiss, Mem[:er <br />