Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />3 <br />ways improve the land over what is currently in the valley, <br />ie, grazing and agriculture. Why improve the land, only to <br />over-develop it in the future? <br />The County's Long-Range Plan <br />The BCAS Conservation Committee would like to see the County <br />develop a long-range plan for the Dowe Flats area. Now is an <br />ideal time for such planning, and indeed, we would not feel <br />comfortable endorsing any course of action in this case <br />without it, We urge you to direct the development of such a <br />plan before any decisions are made or, the part of the County <br />Commissioners. In addition, we feel that large areas of post <br />mining Open Space should be included as a matter of course in <br />any such plan. <br />Much of the acreage in Dowe Flats is jointly owned by both <br />Southdown, Inc. and Marigold 41, with each entity owning an <br />undivided one-half interest until the year 2021. In the <br />current permit request, the County is only dealing with half <br />of the owners; Southdown, Inc. BCAS feels that the <br />relationship between the two companies will strongly impact <br />the long-term future of Dowe Flats. It's very important that <br />the County request a full explanation of how the two <br />companies intend to resolve their future plans for the <br />region. The legal disputes between the two companies have a <br />long and complex history, and the County Attorney needs to <br />have access to all past history and future plans, as they <br />relate to both firms. Long-term planning and Open Space <br />donations will be impossible to determine without prior <br />agreements between Southdown, Inc. and Marigold 41. <br />Prairie D~ and Raptor Habitat <br />Portions of Dowe Flats include large prairie dog populations, <br />and are proven to be a critical food supply for raptors in <br />the region. Please take note that several of the species who <br />feed on this food source are in critical need of protection; <br />the bald eagle being on the state and federal endangered <br />species list, the ferruginous hawk being a federal candidate <br />species, and the prairie falcon, being a state candidate <br />species. We feel this is a serious matter and cannot be <br />taken lightly. <br />Although Southdown Inc. does address this issue at length in <br />their documents, it is clear that much of the "plan" includes <br />prairie dogs being accidentally killed by the mining, (or <br />displaced and left to die), with the ho e that they will <br />