2012-11-29_REVISION - M1977451 - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 18, 2012, Karen Fischer O'Connor Design Group 2350 G Road Grand Junction, CO 81505 COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE 2300 S. Townsend Avenue • Montrose, Colorado 81401 Phone 970 252 -6000 • FAX 970 252 -6053 wildlife.state.co.us • parks.state.co.us Re: SR -11 Mine, Cotter Corporation Dear Ms. Fischer STATE OF COLORADO John W. Hidcenlooper, Govemor • Mike King, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources Rick D. Cables, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Parks and Wildlife Commission: David R. Brougham • Gary Butterworth, Vice -Chair • Chris Castilian Dorothea Farris • Tim Glenn, Chair • Allan Jones • Bill Kane • Gaspar Perricone • Jim Pribyl • John Singletary Mark Smith, Secretary • Robert Streeter • Lenna Watson • Dean Wingfield Ex Officio Members Mike King and John Salazar Qj� I Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed SR -11 Mine in San Miguel County. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has reviewed the location of the proposed mine. The area receives limited deer and elk use throughout the year, as well as limited desert bighorn sheep use. Summit Canyon near the mine site receives heavy bighorn sheep use at all times of the year. Impacts to these animals should be minimal There are approximately 10 different species of bats that inhabit the area. One species in particular, the Thompsons Big Eared Bat is considered a species of special concern in Colorado. Active mines have been shown to have little to no impact on bats due to continuous human activity in and around active mines. However, inactive mines are often used by bats as either winter roost sites or summer breeding areas. Many of these inactive mines have "bat gates" on them, allowing bats access and denying human disturbance. If bat gates are encountered on any mine shafts, the CPW strongly suggests contacting our field personnel to determine the time of year bats inhabit the area. There are several existing roads in the area, and the CPW recommends improving existing roads and using those to access the mine sites versus creating new roads. This would help to minimize habitat fragmentation as well as disturbance to existing wildlife. With the increased human activity at the SR -11 Mine, the spread and control of noxious weeds becomes a concern for wildlife. Invasive plants endanger the ecosystem by disturbing natural processes and jeopardizing the survival of native plants and the wildlife that depends on them. Colorado law requires that invasive noxious weeds are managed and controlled through standard weed maintenance and controls. We recommend that Cotter Corporation continually control noxious weeds near the mine site on any and all roads used.