1999-07-20_PERMIT FILE - M1999062

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Wildlife informati n is more fully provided in Exhibit H. •� The combined effect of pplicant ' s gravel operations and the water rights plan put into of ect on Applicant ' s lands has been to provide wildlife habitat far in excess of that occurring naturally on said land. Applicant has been in contact with the Colorado Division of Wildlife relating to the provision of wildlife habitat and the operation of Applicant' s plan in order not to disturb wildlife habitat during critical periods . As noted previously, topsoil, as it is removed, will be replaced on disturbed areas in order to provide Applicant with further irrigated lands . Therefore preservation of the topsoil taken from the area overlying Applicant 's gravel deposits will not be necessary . Further topsoil will be provided from the bottom of Applicant 's settling ponds and reservoirs when it is available . There are no naturally occurring woods or trees to be incorporated in Applicant 's reclamation plan, although the presence of water in the underlying aquifer has supported the growth of several cottonwood trees in the affected area . In those areas unsuitable for reclamation as farmed irri- gated land, natural grasses will be planted in accordance with the recommendations of the local soil conservation service and • other agencies . Those lands not reclaimed for farming shall be returned to rangeland status . Applicant will monitor lands not reclaimed for farming purposes in order to provide for con- trol of all prohibited noxious weed species . Lack of timber and woody species preclude the necessity for fire lanes or access roads other than those currently existing or used for the farming operations . D. Timetable Exhibit D establishes a mining timetable for Applicant's operation . Implementation of reclamation will follow com- pletion of the mining operation by approximately one year if not sooner, and much of the reclamation will take place con- currently with the mining operation. Therefore the addition of one year to the mining timetable expressed in Exhibit D establishes the estimated timetable for reclamation of the affected lands .