2015-08-21_HYDROLOGY - M1998014

• Permit No: M1998014
• IBM Index Class Name: HYDROLOGY
• Doc Date: 8/21/2015
• Doc Name: Substitute Water Supply Plan
• From: DWR
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: THM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

I ) OI
1876,
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
August 11, 2015
Mr. Jonathan M. Kelly
Wright Water Engineers, Inc.
818 Colorado Avenue, Suite 307, P.O. Box 219
Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602
Re: Gypsum Ranch Pit, Substitute Water Supply Plan 1-1
DRMS File No. M-1998-014 --
N11/2 Section 3 and the NE1/4 Section 4, T5S, R85W, 6th PM
Water Division 5, Water District 37
Approval Period: October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015
Contact Phone Number for Mr. Kelly: 970-945-7755
Dear Mr.Kelly:
John W. Hickenlooper
Governor
Mike King
Executive Director
Dick Wolfe, P.E.
Director/State Engineer
RECEIVE®
--AUG 21 2015
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION,
MINING AND SAFETY
. We have reviewed your letter dated December 26, 2014 in which you requested
approval of a substitute water supply plan ("SWSP") pursuant to § 37-92-308(5), C.R.S., for the
replacement of stream depletions associated with the expansion of use at Gypsum Ranch Pit,
now operated by United Companies as of July 2013 ("United") in Eagle County. An application
for approval of a plan for augmentation has not been filed with the water court and the
depletions associated with the proposed water uses will not exceed five years, therefore this
request has been submitted pursuant to § 37-92-308(5), C.R.S. Notice was sent to all parties
who have subscribed to the SWSP notification list for Water Division 5. That notice was sent on
December 26, 2014 and the State Engineer's Office ("SEO") did not receive any comments
during the statutory 35 -day comment period. The $300 filing fee has been received (receipt no.
3667804).
SWSP Operations
The Gypsum Ranch Pit is located in the N '/z of Section 3 and the NE '/4 of Section 4,
Township 5 South, Range 85 West of the 6th P.M. in Eagle County. Groundwater is not
exposed at this site. The Gypsum Ranch Pit is currently operated pursuant to a plan for
augmentation decreed in Division 5 Water Court Case No. 2002CW211. This SWSP has been
requested to allow United to expand mining and water uses beyond the decreed amounts
outlined in Case No. 2002CW211. United will continue to operate the augmentation plan
decreed in Case No. 2002CW211 and this SWSP will replace out -of -priority depletions resulting
from the expanded mining operations only.
The existing water supply for the mining operation at this site is provided by a direct
diversion from the Eagle River known as the Gypsum Ranch Pipeline. The augmentation plan
decreed in Case No. 2002CW211 utilizes historical consumptive use credits from the dry -up of
15 acres of the C M Stremme and Gates Ditch to augment irrigation season depletions. The
depletions during the non -irrigation season are being replaced by two 40 -year leases with the
Office of the State Engineer
1313 Sherman Street, Suite 818 • Denver, CO 80203 • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
http://water.state.co.us