2014-03-26_PERMIT FILE - M2013081

Home Browse Search

augmentation plan would be required to replace depletions caused by sand and gravel operations on a portion of the Gunnison Rising Project. The 83.3 acres to be removed from irrigation under the Biebel Ditch under the Plan for Augmentation approved herein, the associated CU credits from the Biebel Ditch generated thereby, shall not be available for augmentation use under the 06CW123 augmentation plan. 18. In addition to the Biebel Ditch water rights, the Applicant proposes to use water rights decreed to Blue Mesa Reservoir out of the Gunnison River for 939,204 acre -feet decreed in Case No. 6981 and with a priority date of November 13, 1957, and 122,702 acre feet in Case No. W -61 for domestic, municipal, irrigation, stock watering, industrial, hydropower, piscatorial, wildlife, recreation and other purposes. The initial point of survey of Blue Mesa Dam is located at a point on the right abutment being the intersection of the centerline of the axis of the dam and of the centerline of the outlet works tunnel, whence the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 49 North, Range 4 West, N.M.P.M. bears North 78 °36'44" West, a distance of 3,207.07 feet. Applicant proposes to enter into a long -term contract with the United States of America for up to 30 acre feet of water annually. 19. Generally, the Plan for Augmentation will operate by removal of land from historic agricultural irrigation by the Biebel Ditch as the mining of the Tomichi Pit progresses, with Aspinall Unit water used to replace non - irrigation season depletions. 20. During the period of mining at the Tomichi Pit, water will be depleted during the mining as a result of the dust suppression, retention of water in the gravel mined at and removed from the pit, and evaporation from two sediment ponds to be constructed as part of the dewatering system. 21. The Applicant assumes that all water used for dust suppression will be supplied from the dewatering system for the gravel pit. Approximately 14.5 acre feet of water will be used annually for dust suppression. This water is assumed to be fully consumed. 22. The Applicant's engineer used the April 1, 2011 "General Guidelines for Substitute Water Supply Plans for Sand and Gravel Pits" by the Colorado Division of Water Resources ( "DWR Gravel Pit Guidelines ") to develop the estimated depletions for the Tomichi Pit. The DWR gravel pit guidelines specify that, for material mined below the water table, four percent (4 %) of the mined material by weight is water and should be considered as fully consumed. For mining of up to 200,000 tons per year, up to 5.89 acre feet of water will be removed with the mined material. The Applicant assumes that gravel will be mined at the rates of 21,100 tons per month during April through October, and 10,600 tons per month during November through March, resulting in water depletions of 0.62 acre feet per month during April through October and 0.31 acre feet per month during November through March. Case No. 12CW67, Water Division 4 4