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STATE OF COLORADO
<br />Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor
<br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
<br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
<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 />Mr. Dan Quigley
<br />Buckhorn Geotech
<br />222 South Park Street
<br />Montrose, CO 81401
<br />July 8, 2010
<br />Re: Montrose County Donley Rock Quarry
<br />Dear Mr. Quigley,
<br />GO??O
<br />Jf0`y OF ?y4
<br />For KldlRfe-
<br />For People
<br />Thank you for visiting with my staff today about the County's proposed 20 acre Donley rock quarry
<br />located adjacent to Linscott Canyon. As I understand, the quarry is expected to last for 20 years,
<br />excavating sandstone on approximately 1 acre per year. There is to be a haul road constructed across
<br />Donley's land to access the quarry. Since this road will not be graveled, no mining is expected during
<br />the winter. Further, it is understood that no excavation will occur below the canyon rite.
<br />Habitat in this area is predominantly pinyon juniper and sagebrush. Wildlife species that may be found
<br />throughout the year include mule deer, elk, puma, black bear, coyote, red fox, gray fox, cottontail,
<br />jackrabbit, longtail weasel, western spotted skunk, golden eagle, redtail hawk, sharp-shinned hawk,
<br />long-eared owl, great-horned owl, other migrating raptors, and assorted neotropical migratory birds and
<br />reptiles. Lynx have moved through the area, but do not remain. There are no known kit fox in the area.
<br />Wintering deer use this site and surrounding areas heavily. Elk also winter in the area, but not in the
<br />concentrations of deer. Sagebrush is an important winter food and the adjacent pinyon juniper forest
<br />offers thermal and security-cover for both species. For these reasons, the DOW agrees with no quarry
<br />activities during winter. The state of the haul road will likely determine access in spring, but be aware
<br />that deer may stay in the area until green-up in spring, which depending upon the snowpack, might not
<br />occur until May 1.
<br />The DOW recommends that no fence be erected around the perimeter, as it has been our experience that
<br />deer and elk can become entangled. If a fence is necessary, we suggest constructing a wildlife friendly
<br />fence, with a smooth bottom wire 16" above the ground, top wire no higher than 42" and 12" between
<br />the top and second wire. For more detail, please refer to Fencing With Wildlife In Mind published by
<br />the DOW.
<br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Mike King, Executive Director
<br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Tim Glenn, Chair • Robert Streeter, Vice Chair • Mark Smith, Secretary
<br />Members, David R. Brougham • Dennis Buechler • Dorothea Farris • Allan Jones • John Singletary • Dean Wingfield
<br />Ex Officio Members, Mike King and John Stulp
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