2008-05-12_PERMIT FILE - M2008022

Home Browse Search

STATE OF COLORADO Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Tom Remington, Director 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 Telephone: (303) 297-1192 May 5, 2008 G. Russell Means Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 ~r~~f~IVE~ MAY 12 ~ooa Division wand Sa tY n, Mining ~'~~°~~ sfo~ OF ~~4 For W~Idlife- ForPeople RE: 4B Land & Livestock, LLC, Breeze Basin Sand & Gravel Pit, File No. M-2008-022 Mr. Means: 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 Colorado Division of Wildlife would recommend that you look at this gravel pit along with the other pits being proposed in the area. The DOW has .commented on multiple pits adjacent to this one. We would like you to look at cumulative impacts to the area rather than a one by one look at each pit. The combination of these pits may inhibit big game movement especially elk that move along the river corridor for fall and spring migration. This river corridor also winters large concentrations of elk and mule deer that is critical for survival. The gravel pit activity will take place in or adjacent to riparian habitat. Riparian habitats along with water 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 habitat to a wide variety of animal species. The proposed site is likely 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. Non-native weed species have become established on many disturbed soils throughout the area. The.irivasion of non-native weeds reduces the density of.native vegetation and ,lessens the liabifat 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. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Hams D. Sherman, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Tom Burke, Chair • Claire O'Neal,- Vce Chair • Robert Bray, Secretary Members, Brad Coors • Jeffrey Crawford • Rick Enstrom • Roy McAnally • Richard Ray • Ken Torres Ex Officio Members, Harris Sherman and John Stulp