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COLORADO <br /> ,l�",, Parks and Wildlife <br /> Department of Natural Resources <br /> Pueblo Service Center <br /> 600 Pueblo Reservoir Road <br /> Pueblo, CO 81005 <br /> P 719-561-5300 I F 719-561-5321 <br /> RECEIVED <br /> February 14,2025 <br /> L� 27 2025 <br /> Amber M. Gibson <br /> Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Celan&Ilimisies <br /> and SO* <br /> 1313 Sherman Street Room 215m� <br /> Denver, CO 80203 <br /> RE: Lascar Gravel Pit Review <br /> Dear Ms. Gibson, <br /> Thank you for allowing Colorado Parks& Wildlife, (CPW)the opportunity to review this application to <br /> discuss any fish and wildlife concerns. The Lascar Gravel Pit site is located in an area with diverse <br /> wildlife populations. CPW species activity maps indicate that nearly 50 different wildlife species can be <br /> located in this general area.Notable big game species such as pronghorn, mule deer, and elk utilize the <br /> area throughout the year. Several small game and non-game species also utilize the area. <br /> Tom Branch creek is a dry creek bed/arroyo that runs through the project site and potentially carries water <br /> during periods of heavy rainfall. We conducted a site visit along Tom Branch creek in the proposed <br /> project site on May 26, 2023. The arroyo was dry even though the area had received significant rainfall in <br /> the months prior. At the time of the inspection, no aquatic species were present. CPW's local aquatic <br /> biologist was consulted on this project. CPW's aquatic biologist did not believe the area contains any fish <br /> or aquatic wildlife species associated with the drainage. Given the area is a consistent dry arroyo without <br /> any established aquatic wildlife,this project should not have any impacts to aquatic species. <br /> CPW would like to highlight potential impacts to burrowing owls as this project does occur within their <br /> breeding range. Burrowing owls utilize burrows created by other animals such as prairie dogs and <br /> badgers. If these types of burrows exist within the proposed project site, burrowing owls may be present. <br /> Federal and state laws prohibit the harming or killing of burrowing owls and the destruction of active <br /> nests. <br /> Colorado Parks and Wildlife(CPW)recommends surveying for burrowing owl presence before <br /> potentially harmful activities start. The migration of burrowing owls depends on numerous factors <br /> including weather. This can result in burrowing owls being present prior to March 15th. Burrowing owls <br /> typically arrive on breeding grounds in Colorado in late March or early April,with nesting beginning a <br /> few weeks later. Active nesting is expected from late March through early August. <br /> ,f cote <br /> 9' <br /> ,w <br /> Jeff Davis,Director,Colorado Parks and Wildlife <br /> Parks and Wildlife Commission:Dallas May,Chair•Richard Reading,Vice-Chair•Karen Bailey,Secretary•Jessica Beaulieu <br /> Mane Haskett•Tai Jacober•Jack Murphy•Gabriel Otero•Murphy Robinson•James Jay Tutchton•Eden Vardy <br />