Laserfiche WebLink
it <br />RUG-1~ 01 15:45 FROM:CDOW <br />303-498-9742 T0:+13038663567 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <br />OEPARTNIENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />An EQUAI. ovvoaruam a~lvLOrea <br />Russell George, Oireclor <br />soso 9roaawey <br />Denver, Cokxado aa21a <br />Telephone: (3t19) 297.1192 <br />August 16, 2001 <br />Carl Mount <br />Division of Minerals & Geology <br />1313 Sherman Street Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Re: Owens Brothers Concrete Cotnpany, Nix Sand and Gravel Miae, File No. M-2001-046 <br />Dear Mr. Mount: <br />PAGE:02 <br />Fer 1~ldlifc- <br />Fur Peaple <br />The following constitute the comments of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Mt1te Sherman (Field <br />Habitat Biologist) and Milte Gabler (District Wildlife Manager) have reviewed this Reclamation Perntit <br />Application Consideration and made a field visit to the site with the applicant/opetator on June 7, 2001. <br />The site proposed to for mitring is curtemly agticuhural cropland and will wtttinue as cropland as the post- <br />n»ning land use. We believe that the request to extract construction materials has no significant poternial <br />to negatively impact wildlife or wildlife habitat directly on the site. However, we do have sienificant <br />concerns reeardine the potential of this project to de-water ropndwater supplies directly off this <br />site. particularly env neeative impacts to eroundwater etiectin the properly directly to the south <br />in Section 33. This property is owned by Cynthia Parker at Ssee Hill Farm and bested et 8234 <br />Weld County Road 28. <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife Cooperative Habitat Improvetttettt Program (CH1Ps) grant has <br />recently funded two projects on the Sage hill Farm which may be negativety impacted by the proposed <br />mining operation A brief explanation of the two projects and our concerns follows: <br />• 2000 CHIPa project: Shelterbelt Adjacent to WCR 28 <br />Four rows (470 trees and shrubs) of this eight-row shelterbeh were planted under. a grant for $2,661. <br />One factor in the Division's decision to award this grant was the proximity of this shelterbelt to the Sage <br />Dill Farm Wetland. <br />Concerns: The trees and shrubs of this shelterbelt could be impacted if a drawdown of the water <br />table level takes place due to the de-watering of the gravel pits next door. The possibility exists that <br />as the trees and shrubs are growing, they will adapt their mots to the lower water table level resuhing <br />from the drawdown. When the water table eventually rises again, returning to its historically high <br />level after the dewatering operations are complete, the deeper roots of the trees nlay rot out. This <br />could weaken the plants, creating a higher susceptibility to insect attack and other problems, or could <br />actually kill the trees. <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg E. Wakher, Executlue Dlreetor <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Ridt Enstrom, Chatr • Robert Shoemaker, VbeLhar • Marianna RaRepoulos. Seaeiary <br />Members, namard Bladr .Tom Burke. Phtro ,lames • Brad Phebs • Olive Valdez <br />