WSP00377

• File Number: 8220.128.A
• Description: Silt Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1945
• Author: USDOI - BOR
• Title: Silt Project-Colorado ‎(Draft of Project Planning Report)‎ Part 2 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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owned by Henry Zieseniss. One electric power line and two telephone

lines cross the reservoir basin and will have to be relocated.

The dam site is at about the center of the Grand Hogback, one of

the principal coal producing formations of the area. Two mines at

the head of the gap have been worll:ed at various times. One mine east

of Rifle Creek and known as the Bauman mine is on vacant government

land. The lease has reverted to the government and the land has been

wi thdrawn for reservoir development purposes. The second mine known

as the Bulkey mine is west of Rifle Creek on a 40 acre tract owned by

Ora Estes. This mine has not been commerd.i.Il.ly worked for about 20

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years.

The only active coal mine is that operated by Henry Zieseniss

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referred to above and located in the southwest quarter of the north-

west quarter of section 7, Township 5 South, Range 92 West. The coal

mine land is leased fran the Government. The present mine workings

are above the high water level of the Rifle Gap Reservoir but a part

of tlie tipple plant would be submerged by the reservoir. Mr. Zieseniss,

contacted in 1941, indicated a willingness to cancel his lease for a

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consideration and would remove the tipple and other improvements to a

new location.

The following figures on coal production of the Zieseniss mine

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were secured fran Mr. Bourquin of ,the Geological Survey, Denham Building,

Denver, Colorado:
~ Tons Year '~
1943 1,322 i.,
1940 1,348
1941 1,764 1944 227
1942 2,244 1945 None to Sept. 1

Average yearly production 1940-1944, inClusive, 1,381 tons.

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