2011-12-12_REVISION - M2003058 (3)

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STATE OF COLORADO Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Thomas E. Remington, Director 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 Telephone: (303) 297 -1192 wildlife.state.co.us September 28, 2010 Joe Sessions Glenn E. Sessions & Sons, Inc. PO Box 1076 Walden, CO 80480 Dear Mr. Sessions, For Wildlife - For People On behalf of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, I thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the development of the Fairbanks II gravel pit located in the SW4NE4 and NW4SE4, section 33 T7N, R77W, adjacent to the Fairbanks I gravel pit. The area provides habitat to many species of wildlife including, small mammals, bear, mountain lion, songbirds, and a variety of raptors. This area also serves as significant habitat for three economically important species of wildlife including moose (overall range and concentration area), elk (overall range), and mule deer (summer range). The mixed conifer and aspen ecosystem found on this site provides critical habitat for these species during various seasons of the year. District Wildlife Manager Josh Dilley has reviewed the project proposal and made a visit to the site. It is his opinion that while the project will displace wildlife from the site during the period of development sufficient habitat exists adjacent to the proposed site to support any wildlife displaced by the gravel pit operation. An access road already exists to the gravel pit site from Highway 14, therefore, no additional habitat fragmentation will occur by creating a new access road. If the site is to be fenced, please consider a fence that would allow wildlife to pass through easily, while keeping domestic livestock out of the area of operation. A four wire fence would be sufficient. A fence that would accomplish these tasks would consist of a smooth top and bottom wire with wire spacing (from top to bottom) of 42 inches, 30 inches, 23 inches, and 16 inches. The two middle wires could be barbed. In addition to these suggestions, it is recommended that the top wire is constructed of a highly visible, coated wire. This allows for better visibility when animals jump the fence, and when birds are in flight. Noxious weeds are a threat to native wildlife habitats. Please consider the control of any noxious weeds that may invade the disturbed site. This would protect the habitat around the gravel pit site as well as reduce the possibility of spreading invasive weed seed to other areas of Jackson County through the piocess of transporting materials from the pit. Successful reclamation with native vegetation would return the area to useable wildlife habitat at the completion of gravel development. Based upon site observations and current wildlife habitat data, the Division of Wildlife does not anticipate any significant impacts to wildlife on this gravel pit site, nor does it find any threatened or endangered species which would be affected by this gravel pit construction. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, James B. Martin, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Tim Glenn, Chair • Robert Streeter, Vice Chair • Mark Smith, Secretary Members, David R. Brougham • Dennis Buechler • Dorothea Farris • Allan Jones • John Singletary • Dean Wingfield Ex Officio Members, James B. Martin and John Stulp