2010-07-19_PERMIT FILE - M2010019

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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE C 4 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Thomas E. Remington, Director 0?, OF _.(ti 1?1' 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 Telephone: (303) 297-1192 For Wildlife- For People wildfife.state.co.us 151 E. 16"' Street 18 February 2010 Durango, CO 81301 Mr. Curt Moore, Associate Planner Archuleta County Planning Department 1122 Highway 84 Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 Dear Mr. Moore: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed EAGLE MOUNTAIN GRAVEL PIT. One of the ways we achieve our mission, to protect, preserve, enhance, and manage wildlife and their habitat for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the people of Colorado and its visitors, is to assist local governments in land use planning and regulation under the authority of the Areas and Activities of State Interest Act, H. B. 1041. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) reviewed the applicant's permit application and offers these continents for your consideration. The applicant proposes a mining, extraction and processing operation of sand and gravel on 38.2 acres located approximately one half mile northeast of Piedra Road, between Stevens Lake Road and Cloman Boulevard, in Township 35 North, Range 2 West, Sections 4 and 9, NMPM, Archuleta County, Colorado. The area is surrounded by agricultural/rural residential private lands and the Cloman Industrial Park to the southeast. The predominant vegetation is open upland ponderosa pine/Gambel oak woodland with no apparent wetlands observed on the site. The CDOW's Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS) lists over 310 terrestrial wildlife species as either likely or known to occur in Archuleta County. Of those species, there are 20 that are also listed as threatened, endangered or species of special concern by either the state of Colorado or the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While several of these species (Canada lynx, Bald Eagle) might occasionally move through the area of the proposed gravel operation, after reviewing the habitat needs for those species, it is determined that this is not critical habitat for these species and is unlikely to affect their populations. The general area is mapped by the CDOW as summer range for mule deer and elk, overall range for black bear, mountain lion, Abert's squirrel and winter range for elk and Merriam's Turkey. Leaving existing vegetation standing until that area is mined and reclaiming lands as soon as the work is completed will minimize impacts to these species. The CDOW recommends that all landscaping and re- vegetation be done with native, drought-tolerant species. We also recommend adopting an aggressive noxious weed management plan for this project to include cleaning all work vehicles and equipment to remove seeds and/or pieces of noxious weeds, minimizing the introduction and spread of noxious weeds, as well as the need for costly weed control later. Wildlife usage may decrease with disturbances, but as noted above this general area has already seen development taking place. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, James B. Martin, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Tim Glenn, Chair • Robert Streeter, Vice Chair • Mark Smith, Secretary 11APmham nAnnic Ri iarhlar . Rrari r:nnm a .Iaffrny r.ra+errhrrl • nnrnthaa Fnrric a Rny MrAnni1v • .Inhn Ginnlatarv