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' broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) in some parts of this pond gives the appearance of not being mined for some time. This gravel pit has irregular ' shorelines and indentations, indicating that reclamation procedures were either not required, were not implemented, or that mining operations were simply suspended. This pond is currently connected to the Colorado River mainstem. The ' CDPOR purchased the land around the larger gravel pit to construct a foot/bicycle trail as part of the Colorado River Riverfront Project. Annual row crops are currently being grown on the Van Wagner property north ' of the smaller pond. This property is scheduled,for construction of a mobile home park. Plans are to convert the smaller pond into a recreational fishing pond for residents of the mobile home park. Although there is road access to the t ponds and along the drainage ditch, no public motorized vehicle access is planned for either recreational area. Gravel pit mining activity presently occurs immediately east and west of ' these ponds. Grand Junction Pipe and Supply Company is mining to the east; Elam Construction, Incorporated to the west. Water Management ' General. The Grand Junction Irrigation District has an access easement to operate and maintain the drainage ditch through the property that drains directly into the Colorado River. They will occasionally require vehicle access to clean the drainage ditch and culverts. t The water level in the large, isolated pond remains relatively constant throughout the year. The water surface area in June 1993 was 7.4 acres; September 1993 was 7.1 acres. Both ponds, most likely, are fed by groundwater and surface return flows from irrigation ditches in the immediate area and from groundwater percolating laterally from the river. This obviously helps maintain ' year-round water levels in both ponds. The smaller pond to the north is physically separated from the larger pond by two road berms and the drainage ditch. The water level in this pond fluctuates more than the larger pond annually because it is connected to the river. The water surface area in June ' 1993 was 3.5 acres, and in September 1993 was 2.9 acres. Although water depth profiles have not been taken for these two ponds, the smaller pond appears to be shallower and is gradually filling with sediment at the eastern, upper end, that ' is farthest from its connection with the river. Reclamation procedures for the larger pond are underway. A shallow-water ' area has been established in one portion of the pond to create a wetland. There are presently no water control structures at the site. One of the three major channels of the mainstem river to the south of the ' larger pond has recently taken a northerly course and is cutting into the dike separating the pond from the river. This cutting was accelerated during the spring flows of 1993. Originally, the conceptual plan was to backfill the larger t pond and grade it gently back to the river, cut a channel in the dike, and connect the pond with the river so that the pond would naturally fil_1 during the spring runoff and drain following spring runoff. Draining the pond and reducing 1 6