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lPe~tll e,,,~ <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br /> <br />Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />~ <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE ~ <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Bruce McCloskey, Director <br />6060 Broadway <br />Denver, Colorado 80216 <br />Telephone:(303) 297-1192 It'd (~,P~ ~ q ~ p~- <br />U`C K .~ <br />wuduje.srare.eo.us ~B 13 2001 <br />Divis~ n of Rt;ci=nn,.tlon, <br />i fining and Safety <br />January 27, 2007 <br />Ms. Deb E. Gonima _ __ <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman St. Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />~- <br />~e <br /> <br />`~~ <br />For Wildlife- <br />ForPeople <br />Re: Notice of 112 Construction Materials -Reclamation Permit Application Consideration - <br />Big °°G" Gravel Pit <br />Dear Ms. Gonima, <br />The Division of Wildlife has reviewed the information provided for the Big "G" Gravel Pit, to conduct `Surface <br />extraction of construction materials and reclamation' on approximately 190 acres, and has visited the site on <br />January 22, 2007. The site curcently consists of rangeland, and is bordered to the north by the Rocky Ford Highline <br />Canal and the Arkansas River, with similar rangeland surrounding the rest of the property. <br />Wildlife found in the area includes mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, black tailed prairie dogs, turkey, bobwhite <br />quail, raptors including Burrowing Owls, neo-tropical bird species, and various small mammals. The majority of <br />which are located in the riparian corridor of the Arkansas River. <br />The Division of Wildlife offers the following comments and suggestions: <br />• The Arkahsas River and Highline Canal is the northern boundary of the q 90 acre site. A very small <br />percentage of this riparian habitat type exists in Pueblo County making this area quite important to <br />wildlife. <br />• Special care should be given to protect this critical habitat zone from both direct and indirect disturbance. <br />• The Western Burrowing Owl is a state threatened species and is an inhabitant of short-grass prairie <br />rangeland from approximately March 15 to October 31 of the year. The owls are found in close proximity <br />to prairie dog towns and special care should be taken to identify active Burrowing Owl nest sites on the <br />property. <br />• Surveys should be conducted between March 15 and October 31 to determine if Burrowing Owls are <br />present. <br />• If owls are present, activity can proceed in areas greater than 150 feet from the Burrowing Owl burrows <br />with little danger to the owls. Activity closer than 150 feet may endanger the owls. <br />• Native vegetation, including cottonwood trees and willows, located on the property should be disturbed as <br />little as possible so as to lessen any negative impacts to wildlife. <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Hams D. Shennan, ExeaAive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Jeffrey Crawford, Chair • Tom Burke, Vice Chair • Claire O'Neal, Secretary <br />Members, Robert Bray • Brad Coors • Ridc Enstrom • Richard Ray • James McAnaly • Ken Torres <br />Ex Otfido Members, Harris Sherman and John Shdp <br />