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,.--- -.: <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Roy Romer, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EpY1L °PP'OR7IR(fY EIPLOYER <br />Jdm W. Mumrtu, Dsector <br />6060 BroWw~y <br />Derrvar, Cabrado 80278 <br />Telephone: (303)297-1192 <br />NorBnvest Repionel Ofice <br />711 Independent Ave. <br />Grand Junctlan, Colorado 81501 <br />Telephone: (970) 24&7175 <br />Mr. Dan Matthews <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />REFER TO <br />cP~~Oo <br />o>F <br />For l;iWG/i - <br />For People <br />July 8, 1996 <br />RE: Roadside Portals, Permit Revision Application No. 2, File No. C-81-041 <br />Dear Mr. Matthews: <br />We are providing the following comments that pertain to wildlife interests: <br />1. Mod'rfying the woody plant density on rehabilitation sites should have no sign~t:ant <br />impact on wildlife. However, it is recommended that Greasewood and Shadscale be retained <br />in the rehabilitation plant mix. Greasewood is a prevalent woody plant species on the project <br />sites north of the Colorado River. Greasewood provides foraging and escape cover to various <br />species of songbirds. <br />2. I have recently observed the existing rehabilitation work that has been performed on <br />waste deposit areas in Coal Canyon, north of the Colorado River. What is strikingly obvious is <br />that the existing rehabilitation areas do not exhibit any random placement of rock. The <br />surrounding undisturbed, natural, ground cover includes randomly spaced rocks varying from <br />1 tt. diameter to as much as 6 tt. diameter. The surrounding natural rock ground cover has a <br />densely of about 5% to 10°/a. The presence of rock ground cover provides foraging and escape <br />cover to numerous reptiles, insects, rodents, cottontail rabbits, and mammals such as ringtail <br />cat and bobcat. Although it was not mentioned in the previous application process, we now <br />recommend that rehabilitation include placing racks in a random spacing to provide a 5°/a <br />ground cover. The rocks that are used for ground cover could be from 1 ft to 6 ft in diameter. <br />3. An active peregrine falcon nest site is located on Mt. Lincoln within the project area. <br />This nest location has been active for a number of years. A map showing the location of this <br />nest is attached. The project area does include hunting and foraging habitat for peregrine <br />-~~ - - ~~-~~III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />^r <br />R~r,1=ivED <br />cur. 1 1 1996 <br />Division of Minerals & ptlrilagy <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. James S. Laldread, E:ecutlve Dlrcctor <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Arnold Selarar, Chekman - Rebexe L Frank Vice Chair - Merk Le VaOey, Seerefary <br />Jesse Lanpstm Boyd, Jr., Member-Look S. SvAfL Member <br />Wlmam R. Hegbvp, Member - JoM R. Shdp, Member - Jama R. Lonp, Member <br />