Laserfiche WebLink
mining activities should be expected to be minimal and most likely will <br />continue to be positive. <br />Allow for migratory crossings along the haul road to minimize elk/vehicle <br />collisions. <br />o Current plans allow elk full access along the entirety of the haul road. As <br />discussed, Colowyo is proposing to include additional lighting at critical <br />points on the proposed haul road/access road in combination with voluntary <br />speed reductions to minimize vehicle/wildlife interactions. Colowyo feels this <br />proposal provides the lowest possible impact to wildlife migration/movement <br />patterns. Colowyo believes that the construction of barrier fences and <br />crossings would be very disruptive to wildlife movements especially in the <br />short term and would lead to a larger net negative impact. <br />MULE DEER <br />- Minimize disturbance footprint. <br />o Habitat impacts were evaluated when the disturbance boundary was <br />determined to avoid high value habitat areas wherever practicable. <br />Don't use aggressive non-native species in seed mix. <br />o Colowyo has previously incorporated this concept into the existing package. <br />Use of wildlife friendly fence where wildlife/mining interact. <br />o Colowyo will ensure that additional fencing efforts will include CDOW <br />recommendations to ensure minimal impacts to wildlife. <br />Post mining reclamation efforts in re-creating suitable mule deer habitat in the areas <br />where such habitat existed. <br />o Colowyo's existing reclamation plan and proposed Collom plan selectively <br />targets the establishment of sage grouse brood rearing habitat on reclaimed <br />land given direction by CDOW that this habitat was most critical in the area of <br />the proposed Collom disturbance footprint. However, the proposed <br />reclamation plan focuses on overall improvement of shrub establishment <br />across the entirety of the disturbance footprint, especially given the new <br />variable topsoil depth allowances. Improvements in forage availability should <br />be realized that will have a positive impact on mule deer populations in the <br />area. As evidenced by the current level of utilization by mule deer of <br />Colowyo's existing reclaimed lands, the long-term negative impact on mule <br />deer populations due to mining activities should be expected to be minimal <br />and most likely will continue to be positive. <br />Conversion of wheat fields. <br />o Colowyo has evaluated CDOW's suggestion that conversion of the wheat <br />fields in the lower portions of Morgan Gulch, Jubb Creek and Collom Gulch <br />would be a significant mechanism to offset impacts to local sage grouse <br />populations. CDOW also mentions that this could also be applied to the <br />wheat fields located in the general vicinity of the Gossard Loadout. For <br />several reasons, the wheat fields nearest the Gossard Loadout would be the <br />least problematic to convert to a CRP equivalent plant community. Colowyo <br />would also be able to ensure that these fields would remain in this modified <br />condition throughout the expected remaining li{e span of the Gossard Loadout <br />Colowyo Mine C-1981-019 <br />Permit Revision 03 - Collom Permit Expansion <br />page 4 of 9 4 May 2011 <br />