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~. <br /> <br />c} Threatened or endangered species - Bald eagles are listed as <br />a threatened species on the federal list. They occur in small <br />numbers on the Colorado River in the winter months with an <br />average of two or three .birds in the vicinity of the proposed <br />gravel operation. <br />d) Effects of proposed operation on existing wildlife - Nesting <br />geese in the meadow area will be disturbed or displaced by gravel <br />operations. Mammals such as deer, rabbits, and rodents will also <br />be disturbed and displaced. Habitat for migrating shore birds such <br />as the sandhill crane will be Lost. The loss of cover will effect <br />most all species listed above and especially so with song birds and <br />raptors, The gravel operation will result in a loss of plant <br />diversity which means a loss in biomass as well as vertical <br />diversity of the different plant species. This will mean that less <br />wildlife species will temporarily use the area because of <br />disturbances, but long term use can be reestablished thru proper <br />habitat design and enhancement. Human activity including noise <br />will have an impact on a wide variety of species and this should be <br />corrected once all gravel operations have ceased. Spring operations <br />should be removed as far as possible from nesting waterfowl. No big <br />game migration routes are situated on the site although a small <br />resident deer herd thrives year-round. <br />e) Recommendations - <br />1) Allow all existing trees including any dead cottonwoods to <br />( remain standing. <br />2) Design gravel pits to have irregular shorelines with mini- <br />coves and shallow shoreline water (less than twc feet) and <br />extend the shallows an average of ten feet into the pit. <br />3) Hanks of ponds should have a slope no greater than 3:1 <br />with even flatter slopes preferred. <br />4) Allow one island/four acres of pit to remain for nesting <br />birds. The surface of each island should be a minimum of four <br />hundred square feet. <br />5) Work with the MRCS office in Glenwood Springs to <br />revegetate disturbed lands with a variety of plant species. <br />6) Plan the project for the long term use of the site once <br />the gravel operation is completed; i.e. private campground, <br />wildlife sanctuary, fishing lake, homesites.} <br />7) Pile branches and removed brush out of the operation <br />area for use by birds and rodents. <br />e) Design for diverse ground elevations surrounding the <br />gravel pits at the completion of the project. <br />Respectfully, <br />Don Crane <br />District Widlife Manager <br />( cc: 5. Yamashita <br />J. Toolen <br />PageH-3 <br />