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<br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF <br />DIVISIONAOF RWILDLIFE <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Thomas E. Remington, Director <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone: (303) 297-1192 <br />wildlife. state. co. us <br />Travis H. Marshall <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman St. Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />RE: Enlaraina size of Current Piceance Gravel Pit <br /> aoo t - 0`x'1 <br />_ CN- Q\ ?OIA?!!10 <br /> <br />?'O?g 1r <br />124 <br />diMi9f1 of RecI,!Matl^ OF ~4 <br />IMifliflg and gMity <br /> For Wildlife- <br /> For People <br />January 14, 2009 <br />Mr. Marshall: / <br />Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Rio Blanco's proposed gravel pit enlargement at the Piceance Pit. <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife believes that the site near Rio Blanco County Road 5 has a high wildlife value. <br />Wildlife species in the White River area include deer, elk, eagles, turkeys, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and <br />numerous other species. This site is located near the White River riparian corridor. The majority of wildlife <br />species' in these areas use these corridors for some aspect of their life cycle. Riparian areas are the most fragile to <br />disruption and offer the_best habitat to a wide variety of animal species. They also contain elk'and deer wintering <br />grounds, which are crucial for nourishment and cover throughout the winter. <br />The Division of Wildlife offers the following comments pertaining to the above project: <br />The entire area of the proposed action lies within a '/2 mile of a bald eagle winter roost location. Timing <br />stipulations for a bald eagle winter roost location is from November 15`h to April 15`h. The Division of <br />Wildlife recommends that during this time no activity is allowed within a'/z mile of the roost. (See attached <br />map) There is also an eagle nest located at the winter roost site mentioned above. The status of the nest is not <br />known at this time. (see attached photos) <br />The location lies within "winter range" and "severe winter range" for mule deer. "Severe winter range" is <br />classified as critical habitat. Combinations of deep snow, below zero temperatures, and crusting snow all <br />have impacts on big game survival. Heavy construction activities during the time period of December 1 S` <br />through April 15`h would negatively impact wintering mule deer and elk in this project area by causing them <br />to incur increased winter stress. Negative impacts to wintering mule deer and elk could be minimized in this <br />area by not working the pit during dawn and dusk. This would allow the deer and elk to utilize the river area <br />during the times when they are most active. <br />Non-native weed.species have become established on many disturbed soils throughout the White River/ <br />non-native weeds reduces the density of native vegetation and lessens <br />Piceance Creek area. The invasion of, <br />the habitat values.for native wildlife 'species. Manybf these non-native weeds a'r _e not used as forage.by <br />wildlife. The continual control and "removal of non-native weeds around the'site will Help restore fictive. <br />.vegetation that is valuable to wildlife.' A detailed. weed management plan is advised=tocombat. weed.': <br />problems. <br />The Division of Wildlife also recommends off-site mitigation to lessen impacts on wildlife displaced by the <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Hams D. Sherman, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Tom Burke, Chair • Claire O'Neal, Vice Chair • Robert Bray, Secretary <br />Members, Dennis Buechler • Brad Coors • Jeffrey Crawford • Tim Glenn • Roy McAnally • Richard Ray <br />Ex Officio Members, Harris Sherman and John Stulp