2008-04-11_PERMIT FILE - M2008022

• Permit No: M2008022
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 4/11/2008
• Doc Name: 112c operation permit application
• From: 4B Land & Livestock, LLC
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: GRM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
Sill Ritter, Jr., Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
?f
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ???OF
Tom Remington, Director
For Wildlife-
6060 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80216
For People
Telephone: [phone]
March 10, 2008
Timothy M Scanlon
TMS Consulting
P.O. Box 53
Saguache, CO 81149
RE: Request for Comments for the Proposed Breeze Basin Sand and Gravel Pit Proiect
Mr. Scanlon:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed gravel pit. The Colorado Division
of Wildlife believes that the habitat within the development area has a high wildlife value.
Wildlife species in the area include deer, elk, eagles, coyotes, bobcats, and numerous other
species.
The gravel pit activity will take place in or adjacent to riparian habitat. Riparian habitats along
with wafter are -crucial for most wildlife in the area throughout the year. The majority of animals
use this habitat type for some aspect of their life cycle. Riparian areas are the most fragile to
disruption and offer the best hWltat to a wide variety of animal species.
The proposed site is most important for-mule deer winter range and elk severe winter range.
We would recommend that a seasonal closure on the mining operation during the critical
winter/early spring period (January 1 to March 31). This would mitigate some of the
stress/disturbance to wintering deer/elk, if possible.
Non-native weed species have become established on many. disturbed sails throughout the
area. The invasion of non-native weeds reduces the density of native vegetation 'and lessens
the habitat values for native wildlife species. Many of these non-native weeds are not used as
forage by wildlife. The continual control and removal of non-native weeds on the
disturbed/rehabilitated sites will help restore native vegetation that is valuable to wildlife.
The gravel pit lies in an area where native vegetation provides foraging, nesting, and cover
habitats for nurnerous species of wildlife- The removal and disturbance of native vegetation
for the constwctiomof Jhe above gravel pit and. associated roads will negatively impact the
native: wildlife species,assoetated with this project area. tfpon rehabilitation bf`>?ravei
negative impacts to native wildlife can be offset by planting 'a suitable mixtUre-of -hative =
grass/forb/shrub seed.- Seed plantings on disturbed soils will have greater gern ination and
survival rates when, the soil surface has been prepared to hold moisture and runoff
precipitation. Soils will exhibit increased moisture retention capabilities wtien'the soil surface
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