HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.0 CorrespondenceCOLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE
711 Independent Ave.· Grand Junction CO 81505
970-255-6100·970-2 55-6111
wildlife .state.co.us • parks.state.co.us
Ms . Kathy Eastley
Garfield County Building and Planning Dept.
108 8th Street, Suite 401
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
RE: SSPA7453 and CPAA7452 (aka. The Cottonwoods)
Dear Kathy:
January 24, 2013
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the above referenced land
development application, located in the Kimball Creek drainage, north of the town
of De Beque, CO. The proposed development lies at the base of a steep slope
with east and south facing aspects. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) would
like to offer the following comments with regard to potential impacts this
development may have on wildlife.
1) The proposed development is located at the confluence of Roan Creek
and Kimball Creek. Both Roan Creek and Kimball Creek are perennial
streams which provide riparian habitat as they flow constantly . Riparian
areas such as these are extremely valuable to wildlife , as they provide
both permanent habitat and migration corridors, allowing movement
from one area to another. The riparian vegetation along the creeks
consists of a few deciduous shrubs and woodland over story
comprised of mountain boxelder, locust, and willow . CPW
recommends providing an open-space buffer of 300 feet between the
proposed development and the creeks to maintain the already present
migration corridors .
2) Habitat surrounding the proposed site is characterized by sagebrush-
steppe, mountain shrub and woodland vegetation, consisting primarily
of Gambel's oak, big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, chokecherry, sumac , and
several forbs and grasses . This habitat provides critical summer range
for mule deer; summer range, severe winter range and winter
concentration area for elk; year-round and production range for wild
turkey; summer and fall concentration areas for black bears; year-
round range for mountain lion. Construction activities during the time
period of December 1st through April 30th would negatively impact
wintering mule deer and elk in these project areas by causing these
ST ATE OF CO LORAD O
John W. Hi ckenl oope r, Govern or. Mike King, Ex ec uti ve Direc tor, Depa rtm ent of Natural Reso urces
Ri ck D. Ca ble s, Direc tor, Colora do Parks an d Wil dlif e
Parks an d Wildlif e Commi ss ion: Robe rt W. Bray. Chris Castilian. Jean ne Home
Bi ll Kane, Vi ce -Chai r. Gas par Perri cone . James Pri byl-John Sin gletary , Chai r
Mark Smith , Sec retary. J ames Vigil. Dea n Wingfi eld. Michell e Zim rnennan
Ex Offi cio Members: Mike Kin g an d Joh n Salazar
species to incur increased winter stress. Negative impacts to
wintering mule deer and elk could be minimized in these areas by
avoiding construction activities during this sensitive time period.
3) The proposed development location lies in an area where native
vegetation provides foraging, nesting, thermal and escape habitats for
numerous species of wildlife. The removal and disturbance of native
vegetation for the construction of roads will negatively impact the
native wildlife species associated with this project area. Upon
landscaping of this location, negative impacts to native wildlife can be
offset by planting a suitable mixture of native grass/forb/shrub seed. In
areas where sage brush exists, we recommend the addition of a
suitable sage brush species to the proposed rehabilitation seed
mixture. Seed plantings on disturbed soils will have greater
germination and survival rates when the soil surface has been
prepared to hold moisture and runoff precipitation. Soils will exhibit
increased moisture retention capabilities when the soil surface has
been loosened with a "ripping tool" that creates a rough and uneven
soil surface and seed bed. This treatment will increase seed
germination, and, will reduce the amount of surface runoff and soil
erosion.
4) Areas of dense rock provide habitats for numerous species of small
mammals, birds and reptiles. We encourage the replacement of rocks,
in comparable natural densities, wherever rock outcroppings are
disturbed. This helps mitigate impacts to the above types of wildlife.
5) Non-native weed species have become established on many disturbed
soils throughout the Roan Creek area. The disturbance of soil,
particularly along riparian corridors, increases the chance of non-native
weed invasion. The invasion of non-native weeds reduces the density
of native vegetation and lessens the habitat values for native wildlife
species. The continual control and removal of non-native weeds on
the disturbed/rehabilitated sites of this project will help restore native
vegetation that is valuable to wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife
would gladly provide any additional information needed on weed
control.
6) The proposed development location lies within year-round black bear
habitat. Increased human use of the proposed development area may
increase the potential for conflicts with black bears during the summer
and early fall, particularly during years of drought. The potential for
human/bear conflicts within this project area would be greatly reduced
by placing and utilizing "bear proof" trash containers at work-site
locations. These trash containers should be emptied weekly at a
minimum. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has information on the design
and purchase of "bear proof" trash containers, and, will provide this
information to anyone who is interested in preventing conflicts with
bears.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends that employees be required
to comply with "bear aware" policies regarding food, trash, BBQ grills,
and birdfeeders; and educated on what to do if they encounter a bear.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife would gladly offer specific on-site
recommendations to minimize human-bear conflict, and provide bear
education seminars for contractors and/or employees.
Workers affiliated with this project should be advised not to feed bears,
whether intentional or not, since this activity is detrimental to black
bears, and is a violation of Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission
Regulation (WCR) #021 (D). WCR #021 (D) states, it is unlawful for any
person to fail to take remedial action to avoid conflict with black bears
after being notified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife that black bears are
in the area. The CPW also suggests workers affiliated with this project
be notified that failure to comply with the regulation will result in the
issuance of a citation by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the "Cottonwoods" Project.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife appreciates the opportunity to comment on new
developments in Gartield County. Please feel free to contact me at 970-255-
6154 should you have any questions or require additional information.
Sincerely,
~~
Albert Romero
District Wildlife Manager
cc: JT Romatzke, Area Wildlife Manager
Jim Komatinsky, Land-use Specialist
Lyn Huber