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6 /25/12 Stevan L. O'Brian Environment Inc. 7985 Vance Drive, Suite 205A Arvada, CO 80003 RE: McAtee Construction CO. — Green Brothers Pit No.2 Dear Mr. O'Brian, COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE 122 east Edison • Brush, Colorado 80723 PHONE 970-842 -6300 • FAX 970 - 842 -6329 wildlife.state.co.us • parks.state.co.us Thank you for the opportunity to comment on The Green Brothers Pit No. 2 project near Fort Morgan. Our goal at Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is to provide complete, consistent and timely information to all entities who request comment on matters within our statutory authority and our mission -which is to protect, preserve, enhance and manage wildlife and their environment for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of Colorado and its visitors. The majority of this currently undeveloped land, excluding the current gravel pits, consists primarily of fragmented habitat surrounded by development, gravel mining, and grazing. The Division would expect to find a variety of small ground- dwelling mammals, deer, ground- nesting birds, red fox, coyotes, raptors, waterfowl and passerine birds at the proposed site. Current CPW policy directs our efforts towards proposals that will potentially have high impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitat. The emphasis of CPW concerns is on large acreages, critical habitats, wildlife diversity, and impacts to species of special concern, or those that are state or federally endangered. Due to the small acreage and loW availability of undisturbed habitat adjacent to the proposed site, impacts of the development, as proposed, may be characterized as minimal. This does not mean that the landscape has no value to wildlife or value to the community. It is important to remember that incremental and cumulative loss of natural areas and open spaces will, over time, significantly degrade the overall quality of wildlife habitat in the area. However the waterway called Edwards Gill Ditch that runs through the property does provide wetland and riparian habitat to wildlife. Numerous resident and migratory species of wildlife benefit from this habitat year round. This is not only true on the STATE OF COLORADO John W. Hiduenlooper, Governor • Mace King, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources Rich D. Cables, Director, Colorado Parks and WIdBe Parks and Widife Commission: David R. Brougham • Gary Butterworth, Vice -Chair • Chris Castran Dorothea Farris *Tim Glenn, Chair • Alan Jones • Be Kane • Gaspar Penioone • Jim P rbyl • John Singletary Mark Smith, Seoreiny • Robert Streeter • Leon Watfson • Dean Wingfield Ex (Aldo Members: Mlle King and John Salazar