Laserfiche WebLink
INTRODUCTION <br />Proiect Description <br />United Companies of Mesa County (United) is proposing to mine sand and gravel from a site <br />along the Colorado River near Rifle. The proposed Rifle Scott Pit is located on private land <br />approximately one-half mile east of the I-70 Rifle interchange between 1-70 and the Colorado <br />River (see map). The site totals approximately 117 acres with approximately 72 acres being <br />riparian woodlands. Of the 117 acres, 25.2 acres are proposed for mining. Mining will be <br />generally concentrated in the area of two formerly irrigated pasture fields on the property; <br />Mining Area 1 is located west of the oxbow and Mining Area 2 is southeast of the oxbow (see <br />map). After reclamation, a small lake will occupy each of these mine sites. <br />Bald Eagles <br />During late December 2010, Garfield County planning department stai_f contacted the local <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), Rifle District Wildlife Manager inquiring about the <br />status of Bald Eagles, which had been nesting near the proposed gravel mining site. The CDOW <br />indicated that an active Bald Eagle nest had been observed during January 2010 within the <br />boundary of the gravel-mining lease. <br />The presence of the Bald Eagle nest became a concern associated with the startup and operation <br />of the Scott gravel mine. At the Garfield County Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on <br />January 27, 2010, United agreed to formulate and submit a Bald Eagle Management Plan to <br />county, state and federal representatives. The plan would address Bald Eagle protection and <br />mitigation for potential disturbance factors associated with the gravel-mining operation. <br />PURPOSE OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR BALD EAGLE <br />This goal of this management plan is to provide year-round protection for Bald Eagles that may <br />inhabit habitat within the Scott Pit gravel mine boundaries. Its development is a collaborative <br />effort between WestWater Engineering (WestWater) biologists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service (USFWS) and CDOW. <br />At the request of United Companies (United), WestWater developed this management plan as <br />part of Garfield County's gravel mining permitting process. <br />Backeround <br />During the final stages of Garfield County's permitting process for the Scott Pit, a pair of Bald <br />Eagles was found to have constructed a new nest within United's lease holdings. The recently <br />(November-December 2009) constructed nest lies within 0.25-mile and 0.50-mile buffer zones <br />where the CDOW and USFWS recommends limiting potential disturbance to Bald Eagles; this <br />protection includes nest sites. <br />WestWater Engineering 1 3/16/2010