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* ^' e DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
OMAHA DISTRICT. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
6014 U.S. POST OFFICE AND COURTHOUSE
OMAHA NEBRASKA. 68102
+n,o ^ REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF:
Permits Branch
PO Box 5, Omaha, NE 68101
MROOP-N 29 January 1981
Weld County Board of Commissioners
915 10th Street "
Greeley, CO 80631
4-4,41
Gentlemen:
Inclosed is a copy of a letter this office received from the Colorado Division
of Wildlife regarding your application for a Department of the Army General
Permit, No. GP 81-02.
Your attention is directed toward comments contained in paragraph 2 and 3.
You should either contact the Division of Wildlife directly in an attempt to
resolve this matter or furnish this office with a rebuttal. A copy of any
correspondence between you and the Division of Wildlife should be provided this
office for inclusion in your file.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact
this office at the above address or telephone (402) 221-4133.
Sincerely,
efi2ceZ)
Inclosure RALPH J. MILLER
As stated Chief, Regulatory Functions Branch
Operations Division
cc .
810657
J' %eta_.
STATE OF COLORADO
Richard D.Lamm,Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
.
Jack R. Orleb, Director 3 ' .
6060 Broadway a. °4•
‘<5,
Denver. Colorado 80216 (825-1192) January 19, 1981 -''' DF
TO: Stephen 0. Ellis
Colorado Clearinghouse , 7
FROM: II an ddscoatt �
Division of Wildlife
SUBJECT: Gravel Removal Arround Bridges in Weld County
Army Corps of Engineers No. 81-02
(General Permit)
Division personnel have reviewed this application by the Weld County
Board of Commissioners for a general permit for removal of gravel
deposits from around bridges and piers in the rivers and streams
within Weld County.
Apparently, if we interpret the language of the notice correctly,
this proposal would allow the same type of work as is now allowed
under the present nationwide general permit i.e. clearing of gravel
bars to protect bridges , etc. This latest proposal will, however,
permit more work to be done at a given location or gravel bars and
any other obstacles can be cleared from 600+ feet of stream channel
above and below a bridge. This amount of channel work, could in our
opinion, modify the stream channel and the flow pattern to the extent
that downstream channel degradation and bank cutting could result
thus requiring additional downstream channel work to prevent further
damage. There can also be damage to or destruction of bank vegetation
if the gravel is dozed upon the existing stream banks. There would
probably be less overall damage if the channel, were cleaned with a
backhoe, dragline or a front-end loader rather than with a bulldozer.
If the stream is a fishery, unfortunately many streams in Weld County
are already degraded, time of work can be important. Perhaps para-
graph 5 which requires the County to submit a written notice of
intent 30 or more days prior to the work covers our major concern. It
would seem, however, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should also
be notified as they definitely have an interest in the types of habitats
that can be affected.'
We agree, a county should be allowed to do the work necessary to protect
bridges and similar structures from flood damage which can be done under
the nationwide general permit or an emergency permit. Our primary con-
cerns are how much channel modification should be allowed under a general
permit and how and when the channel work can be done as we do wish to pro-
tect wildlife habitat from any unnecessary adverse impacts.
- - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES,Monte Pascoe, Executive Director •WILDLIFE COMMI5SION,Wilbur Redden,Chairman
Donald Fernandez,Vice Chairman •Jomes Smith,Secretary •Jean K.Tool,Member • Vernon C.Williams,Member
-- ' - - Michael Higbee,Member • Sam Caudill,Member • Richard Divelbiss,Member
t�-...,........�•�.:. .. . .� .. .....-..,-•--tea..,..... '
Stephen 0. Ellis
January 19. 1981
Page 2
•
We appreciate being given the opportunity to comment.
I IW:is
cc: NE Region
State Health - water quality
file - 404 NE
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