Page 22 - 2018 Sustainability Report

LIVING IN HARMONY than 170. In the 1980s, there were 14 pairs of mating Martin Marietta creates ample
bald eagles in Colorado. Today, there are 148.
new habitat for birds of prey like
COLORADO’S WILDLIFE BENEFITS FROM SAND AND GRAVEL OPERATIONS Guggisberg said. “We’re finding synergy with our the bald eagle. Photo by Scott Mancini
community and our environment while still maintaining
profitable operations. We’re leading our industry
and planning for the future. It’s really quite the
accomplishment.”
Martin Marietta’s sand and gravel operations along the To ensure its operations are completely beneficial to the
Front Range of the Rocky Mountains provide material that’s eagles, Martin Marietta has also entered into agreements
fueling Colorado’s incredible expansion. Simply through the with local authorities to limit mining. For several months of
mining process, local Martin Marietta crews are creating the year, our crews must mine no closer than a ¼-mile to “We’re finding synergy with our
ample amounts of habitat needed to sustain elk, deer and an active nest so as not to disturb the birds. Such measures community and our environment while
a variety of other wildlife. The creature to benefit most allow the eagles to live peacefully while safely laying their still maintaining profitable operations.
from these company sites, however, is among our nation’s eggs and caring for their young. We’re leading our industry and
most treasured, the American bald eagle. Parsons Plant Manager Travis Newman says the Rocky planning for the future. It’s really
Area Production Manager Britney Guggisberg says Mountain Division made an extra capital investment during quite the accomplishment.”
conserving and improving the natural features that are a the plant design stage to provide additional conveyors that
part of these sand and gravel operations is a primary focus allow the crew to mine other parts of the property during
from the outset. Through careful consideration and strict restricted periods.
adherence to local, state and federal regulations, these “People come out to watch the eagles nearly every day,
sites have helped spawn an explosion in Colorado’s eagle so for safety’s sake, we mark and then double check our
population.
boundaries very well,” he said. “Thus, we’ve found ways
“We really take the time to optimize our operational to assure our production, the community and the eagles
planning,” Guggisberg said. “We stop and ask how we all live in harmony.”
can keep from disturbing these creatures. Is it always Additionally, the company takes numerous precautions
convenient? No. We’ve had to adapt at times. But we do when clearing local woodlands, Kunkel says, noting that
everything possible to create an environment where we more mature trees are left alone specifically for the eagles’
can operate alongside these eagles in harmony.”
benefit. Though seemingly minor, this precaution is helpful
once an operation begins the shift from active mining to
reclamation.
“We do everything possible to create
an environment where we can operate Located near the Parsons location, Three Bells Sand and
alongside these eagles in harmony.” Gravel was an active mine for more than 20 years before
operations closed in 2014. Today, it’s a Martin Marietta
reclamation project that happens to sit beside a designated
A protected species that once was among the most conservation district. Kunkel says the company’s work there
endangered in the country, bald eagles often nest in the should help the eagle population flourish for decades
same areas Martin Marietta mines, says Environmental to come.
Engineer Erin Kunkel. Counterintuitive though it may
seem, this coincidence actually benefits the birds. “This is an ideal nesting area right beside a safe zone,”
she said. “We’ll typically replant sections of the land. In
“Eagles typically nest in the tall trees that line the same this case, we preserved many of the original cottonwood
rivers and streams along which we naturally find sand and trees, which the eagles love. We’re also leaving behind
gravel deposits,” Kunkel said. “When we begin to mine, nearly 160 acres of open water. This will help the eagles
we clear targeted portions of the land and purposely feed the two to three eaglets that hatch in the property’s
create open water that helps these birds thrive.”
nest each year.”
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, bald eagles At Cottonwood Sand and Gravel in Longmont,
are foragers that are sustained by a variety of small Colorado, the story is similar. There, a Martin Marietta
mammals, birds and fish. Most eagles nest in trees found crew has its collective eye aimed toward a reclaimed
within one mile of an open water source. When a sand future as operations start to wind down. The team has
and gravel site is fully operational, significant open water de-energized and removed overhead powerlines to
is created.
eliminate a possible hazard for the area’s birds. When
Parsons Sand and Gravel, an active operation in Windsor, reclamation is complete, the animals will enjoy 100 acres
Colorado, since 2016, exemplifies this phenomenon. Home of fresh lakes and marshland.
to a bald eagle nest, the site has created nearly 13 acres of Pointing to data from Colorado Fish and Wildlife,
open water. The newly opened area allows the local eagle Guggisberg says officials in the 1970s counted fewer than
population ample space for hunting and foraging.
five bald eagle nests across the state. Today, there are more

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