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STATE OF COLORADO • III I II I II I II IIII III • Bill Owens, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES RECEIVE D DIVISION OF WILDLIFE ,v, EQuu opaoRTUNm entvrovEn FEB 1 6 2001 Russell George, Director 6ofio Broadway Division of Minerals and Geology Denver, Cabrado 80216 Telephone: (303) 297-1192 James C. Stevens 2-14-01 Senior Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, CO. 80203 Dean Riggs District Wildlife Manager- Canon City North District 3170 E. Main St. Canon City, CO. 81212 For [141dlije- For Peop/e VO Mr. Stevens, I have reviewed the Reclamation Permit Application for Castle Concrete Company, Grisenti Farms Gravel Pit, File No. M-2001-005 and would offer the following comments for your/there consideration: No Threatened of Endangered species are currently known to inhabit this area. However the area dose have wetlands that may be suitable habitat for such species as the Arkansas River Darter and other associated small fishes. I would strongly encourage Castle Concrete to take great care in working around these small wetland areas to insure minimal disturbance to possible sites that may be suitable for this species and other small fishes. Please review map, Exhibit C-5, "Wetlands Map". Recently suitable sites have been found just down river at Bear Creek and others are likely to occur in this area. Discharge of water from pit pumps should not occur directly into wetland areas, rather discharge would be more suitable duectly into the river wherever possible. Castle Concrete should be aware that adequate water rites need to be in place to insure ample amounts of water are available for the ponds that will be the result of this mining operation. Barring water rites of this quantity and quality an attempt should be made to reclaim the affected area and return it to a riparian area similar to the current Cottonwood type that exists along the river corridor. With regards to the mention of man made nesting structures for geese I would suggest the following alternative: Given that most types of waterfowl are ground nesters, supplying them with small islands in the remaining ponds would probably produce better results. Islands supply isolation from predators and adequate cover for buds to feel comfortable while raising there young. Islands of tl»s sort do not need to be large, in fact more and smaller islands would probable promote several pairs of geese on each of the ponds that will be the result of this operation. Thank you for allowing the Division of Wildlife to comment on this operation. Sincerely, Dean Riggs DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Greg E. Walther, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Bernard L. Black, Jr.. Chairman .Rick Er>strom, viceChairtnan . Phip James, Secretary