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The following information pertaining to wildlife is provided for use by • the Land Reclamation Board in t~i~ir consideration of a mining permit ly ri.o.~.J .sea/! L'~veor~ 'v..~rt Nisi for Site /!t1 Crvs*a] Meadowc Rnr4 Dmm~ The Colorado Division of Wildlife does hereby Pind, to the best of our knowledge, that the impact of the proposed mining operation on wildlife will be minor x moderate mayor Mine Location: SWf;, IIE}, Section v, T 13 5, R 89 W Wildlife Species List: (may be attached) Wildlife in the area include songbirds, raptors, including golden eagles, bald eagles; dove, raccoon, cottontail rabbits, deer, elk, black bear, coyote, bobcat, amphibians, reptiles and many species of non-game birds and mammals.dd Aquatic species include rainbow and brown trout, several ~ndcengare~u~pec~~s afmpactes~ulpin. Northern bald eagle • Assessment of Impeet on Wildlife: The primary impacts on wildlife habitat from this portion of the mining operation include degradation of water quality in Anthra- cite Creek and deposition of refuse materials in wetland areas. Ryparian habitat is being lost and fisheries habitat is being degraded. Mine Reclamation Recommendations: (may be attached) Current dumping of refuse materials in this area should be cleaned up as a stioulation of the mining permit. During the 1978 spring run-off, refuse materials were being washed downstream. Place- ment of this material in the 4nthracite Lreek flood plain is in contradiction to a 1977 agreement with Western Slope Carbon, Inc. and the Division of Wildlife. It Is our recommendation that dumping of refuse materials not be allowed along the riparian habitat. Amore suitable dump site would be highly desirable. If dumping refuse materials along the valley floor is permitted under the mining permit, the following stipulations should be made. (1) All riprapping and dumping should be placed 15 feet above the floodplain highwater level, allowing a vegetative buffer zone between the river channel and activity site. (2) The main stream channels should not be disturbed in anyway. Machinery should be kept out of the streams at all times, with the exception of clean-up and rehabilitation operations. (3) After dumping is complete, topsoil should be replaced and the areas revegetated. (4) Wetland areas lost to backfilling should be replaced. This could be done, possibly at the north end of the Crystal Meadows dump site. • Prepared by Dave Kenvin Title~ivigion Wildlife 1]~aoer Rick Sherman Wildlife Biologist Date Julv 26. 1978