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STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EOUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Bruce McCloskey, Director <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br />December 20, 2004 <br />Nelson Selcer <br />Jackson County Road and Bridge Supervisor <br />188 Grant Street <br />Walden, CO 80480 <br />Dea: lAr. Deicer; <br />For Wildlife- <br />For People <br />On behal cm the C;olarada Division of Wildlife, I thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the proposed <br />change in status of the Van Valkenburg gravel pit located in the NE1/2-NEl/4,SW 1/4, Section 23, 'f6N, R81 W. <br />District Wildlife Manager Kirk Snyder has reviewed the proposal with you and is familiar with the site. The <br />proposed change in the mine status will enlarge the mine area to about 49 acres and allow the Van Valkenberg <br />family to mine gravel according to a developed plan that covers the next thirty years. 'The site is located in an <br />existing irrigated hay meadow that sits on top of a small flat topped ridge over-looking the Grirzly River. Nine <br />Acres have been mined at This site to date under previous permits. Site disturbance will be limited to the hayfield <br />with reclamation efforts geared toward returning the mined area surface to hay meadow. Existing roads will be <br />used to access the mine. The mine will not require fencing. <br />The hay meadow does provide habitat to water associated birds such as waterfowl during the irrigation season. <br />Sage grouse will use the area after dry-up as will pronghorn, raptors, coyotes, and songbirds. <br />Because of the agricultural nature of the existing use, impacts to wildlife due to mining gravel should be minimal. <br />Habitat changes over the entire 49 acres should be minimized as the mined areas will be rulaimed as the active <br />mining areas move elsewhere according to the plan. The Division of Wildlife recommends monitoring the site for <br />the appearance of weeds. Because of the nature of the soil disturbance that occurs with this type of mining activity, <br />surface mines can be dramatically impacted by weed infestations. Working with the county weed coordinator may <br />be bene5cial in attempts to ccntrcl weeds at this site. <br />In summary, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, based on site observations and current wildlife habitat data, does <br />not anticipate any significant impacts to wildlife associated with this gravel pit. <br />Sincerely, <br />u~,~- <br />Susan Wemer <br />Area Wildlife Manager ,:.u. <br />Xb;~'~ Snyder, Velarde; ss •" <br />,;..,.. <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Philip James, Chair • Jeffrey Crawford, Vice-Chair • Brad Phelps, Secretary <br />Members, Bernard Black • Tom Burke • Rick Enstrom • Claire O' Neal • Robert Shoemaker • Ken Torres <br />Ex Officio Members, Russell George and Dan Ament <br /> <br />