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STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Owens, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE `~ <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Bruce McCloskey, Director <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303)297-1192 <br />October 3, 2004 <br />Erica Crosby <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />~by~`,i+,. i <br />..., <br />ocr o ~ 2004 <br />Division of Cuii,:;;rats $ geology <br />Far Wildlife- <br />ForPeople <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 '/ <br />RE: CEMEX, Inc. Lyons Quarry, Permit No. M-1977`208, Wildlife Resource Assessment Report <br />Dear Ms. Crosby: <br />District Wildlife Manager Sharlene Haeger reviewed the Wildlife Resource Assessment Report <br />submitted by Michael Figgs of LREP on behalf of CEMEX, Inc. for the Lyons Quarry and discussed the <br />report with DWM Lassiter. The report lists species of concern that are known to occur on the site: Bald <br />Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, and Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse. According to <br />NDIS, the site occurs in winter range for the Bald Eagle, overall range for White-tailed Deer, and <br />summer and winter range for Mule Deer. The report acknowledges that the water in "C" Pit presents a <br />potential hazard to wildlife that may come in contact with it, due to high selenium levels and pH of <br />approximately 12. <br />Upon reviewing mitigation options outlined in the report, DWMs Haeger and Lassiter concur with the <br />recommendation "that removal of the water, and prevention of further excess accumulation of water in <br />the pit, be implemented as a long term solution, and that the most viable option or options be pursued <br />immediately and with diligence." They acknowledge that this option will likely take two to three years to <br />implement, and that the potential threat to waterfowl and shorebirds will decline as the water level is <br />reduced. <br />In the short term, the minor mitigation option to install an 8' gate on the access road and to place 8' <br />construction fence along the leading edge of the bank is recommended to prevent deer from entering the <br />area and possibly contacting the water or falling into the pit. Deer are known to occasionally fall into <br />steep concrete-lined canals; the same hazard exists at "C" Pit. It is not known if the toxicity of the water <br />reduces the.attraction to wildlife seeking a water source. <br />During the site visit, DWM Lassiter voiced,a concern that a plan for "A" Pit is riecessary to address <br />toxicity that maybe detected during future monitoring efforts, since wildlife is knowri to,use that pond. <br />Since the report pertains only to "C" Pit, this issue still needs to be addressed. <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Philip James, Chair • Jeffrey Crawford, Vice-Chair • Brad Phelps, Secretary <br />Members, Bernard Black • Tom Burke • Rick Enstrom • Claire O'Neal • Robert Shoemaker. Ken Torres <br />Ex Officio Members, Russell George and Don Ament <br />