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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Owens, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Bmce McCloskey, Director 6060 Broadway Denver, Coloratlo 80216 Telephone:(303)29~-1192 October 18, 2004 Thomas Schreiner Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman St., Room 21.5 Denver, CO 80203 ~~t~~le~'~® OCT 2 2 2004 Division of Minerals & Gaolopy For ~Idlife- FarPeople RE: Farfrumwurkin, LLLP, File Pit 112, File No. M-2004-047 /?~-,,uw~- ~.-.-~^^~, ~'0-' /- Dear Mr. Schreiner: District Wildlife Manager Shazlene Haeger visited the site for the proposed Farfrumwurkin Mine located at Weld County Roads 3 % and Hwy. 52 on Sunday September 26. The majority of the site is currently in agricultural production including corn, alfalfa, and grass and a portion of the site is fallow. The Boulder Ditch runs through the site and the Burlington Northern Railroad defines the western border. There is a small (approximately 1.7 acres) wetland that was dry at the time of my site visit. There is an existing permitted gravel mine on the north end of the site consisting of 10.5 acres. A variety of wildlife species exist in the vicinity and potentially on the site; however, the property probably has limited value for wildlife habitat in its current state. There is likely incidental use by raptors, although no prairie dogs inhabit the property and there aze no lazge cottonwoods that would typically be utilized as nest sites or hunting perches. We concur with the information in Exhibit H- Wildlife Information that nesting habitat quality for upland birds is low, due to conflicts with harvest schedules. Bald eagles do hunt in the vicinity; however there aze no known roosts or nests on the site or within close proximity. US Fish and Wildlife Service may require a survey for Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse. Black-footed ferrets aze not a concern since there are no prairie dogs on the site. It is likely that the project will impact deer, small mammal, and avian species. However, the potential to create wildlife habitat exists. The reclamation plan describes a 3:1 slope of the shoreline above natural grade and a 2:1 slope below natural grade. Depending upon the intended future use of the reservoir, ideal slope will vary. Many waterfowl species prefer an undulating shoreline with a shallow slope, while specifications for a fishery, or for algae and mosquito control will be quite different. The reclamation plan does not specify the intended use of the site after mining is complete, and does not give specific details regarding revegetation or mitigation of the loss of the small wetland. These details need to be provided in order for the Division of Wildlife to comment on reclamation. Please contact the Division of Wildlife for more information regazding wildlife habitat potential for the reclaimed project azea. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Philip James, Chair. Jeffrey Crawford, Yce-Chair. Brad Phelps, Secretary Members. Bernard Black .Tom Burke .Ride Enstiarn .Claire O'Neal .Robert Shoemaker. Ken Tortes Ex Offido Members, Russell George and Don Amen[