2004-08-05_REVISION - M2000158 (2)

Home Browse Search

STATE OF COLORADO Bill Owens, Ggvemor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIdIS10N OF WILDLIFE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Bruce McCbskey, Director 6060 Broadway Denw;r, Cobrado 60216 Telephone: (303) 297-7192 August 5, 2004 Carl Mount Division of Minerals & Geology 1313 Sherman Street-Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 / Re: Platte Sand & Gravel LLC, S & H Mute, File No. M-2000-1 SS Dear Mr. Mount: t/ RECEIi/E~l AUG 1 ~ 2004 BIy1810n of Minerals and Geolo4Y ~ o'~ For ~ldlife- For People The following constitute the comments of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Milce Sherman (Field Habitat Biologist) and Chad Morgan (District Wildlife Manager) have reviewed this Reclamation Permit Amendment Application and made numerous field visits to the proposed mine site between June 5, 2000 and present. • We highly recommend the installation of numerous monitoring wells along the South Platte River within the wetland complex and that pre-mining monitoring occur as well as monitoring during the mining operation and post-mining monitoring. Such monitoring will allow fot the long-term health and vigor of this wetland complex The proposed project does have the potential to negatively impact wildlife or wildlife habitat. The proposed project is located within a continuous three mile wetland complex along the South Platte River and is surrounded by agricultural land. This complex includes lush wetland and riparian habitat and is known to be of extremely high value as wildlife habitat. We have concerns that the constructed slurry wall(s) may alter goundwater flow in the area between the proposed post-mining reservoirs and the South Platte River and thus negatively impact the abovementioned vegetation complex. This complex includes many mature cottonwood trees including those used by Bald eagles as a winter roost site. The Colorado Division of Wildlife appreciates this opportunity to comment on this project proposal. If you have any question, please wntact tke Sherman at (970)'116-3335. Thank you. ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~ C~~/~Yu~" -~ " Scott Hoover, NE Regional Man cc: Dave Clarkson, Area Wildlife Manager Chad Morgan, District Wildlife Manager Rick Moss, NE Senior Habitat Biologist Mike Sherman, Area Habitat Biologist DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Russell George, Fxeative Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, PhIGp James, Chair • Jeffrey Crawford, ViceChaa • Brad Phelps, Secretary aAamMrc Romani RLv~k . Tnm Ri oleo • Rick Fndmm . f :Iairo (1'Noal . Rnhaf Rhromakar • Kan Tnmoc C