Laserfiche WebLink
IRIS <br />MITIGATION AND DESIGN, INC. <br />SCHWARTZWALDER MINE PHASE 1 - UPSTREAM CUTOFF WALL AND LOW FLOW BYPASS <br />PIPELINE - BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT <br />• Remove all mud, plants, and debris from equipment (tracks, turrets, buckets, drags, teeth, etc.) <br />and spray /soak equipment a 1:15 solution of Sparquat institutional cleaner and water. Keep <br />equipment moist for at least 10 minutes, OR <br />• Remove all mud, plants and debris from equipment (tracks, turrets, buckets, drags, teeth, etc.) <br />and spray /soak equipment with water greater than 140 degrees F for at least 10 minutes. <br />• Clean hand tools, boots, and any other equipment that will be used in the water with one of the <br />above options as well. Do not move water from one water body to another. Be sure equipment <br />is dry before use. <br />The CDOW recommends that all work avoid any active raptor nests and allow for any recommended <br />set -backs from construction activities until the young have fledged the nest. No trees that contain any <br />active raptor or migrating bird nests will be removed as a part of this Project. Phase 1 construction is <br />planned for late fall 2011 through early spring 2012 to avoid disturbing nesting birds. Any discovered <br />active raptor or migratory bird nests will be protected from construction activities with CDOW <br />recommended buffer zones as described in the "Recommended Buffer Zones and Seasonal <br />Restrictions for Colorado Raptors." <br />3.2 Agency /Expert Consultation <br />PMJM have been surveyed in several locations along Ralston Creek both up and downstream of <br />Ralston Reservoir (personal communication, Peter Plage, USFWS). Jefferson County Open Space <br />representative Frank Kunze was involved in a PMJM trapping study in 1995 just upstream of Ralston <br />Reservoir along Ralston Creek. There were two positive PMJM captures from this trapping study. <br />Frank Kunze was involved in two additional PMJM trapping studies along Ralston Creek just up and <br />downstream of the Site since 2001. Neither trapping study had any positive PMJM capture (personal <br />communication, Frank Kunze, Jefferson County Open Space); although, we understand that a <br />subsequent trapping study in the summer of 2011 upstream of the Site resulted in a positive capture. <br />Frank Kunze described the PMJM habitat along Ralston Creek above the Site as superior. <br />According to the "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, Revised Critical Habitat for the <br />PMJM in Colorado" by the USFWS, The segment of Ralston Creek that passes through the Cotter <br />Corporation's existing Schwartzwalder Mine serves as a connector between areas supporting all PCEs <br />[Primary Constituent Elements] required by the PMJM located upstream and downstream." Ralston <br />Creek provides linear riparian PMJM habitat through the Site. Therefore, this reach of Ralston Creek is <br />Page 21 August 2011 <br />