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2. The site selection process evaluated prospective mitigation areas based on each site's <br />potential to be protected and its capability of being reclaimed to a functional wetland. <br />Factors considered included proximity to the river, habitat connectivity, land use, <br />neighboring land use, presence of hydrology, availability of supplemental hydrology, <br />remoteness from disturbance, and size. Alternate site locations were discussed in <br />meetings with COE with the purpose of evaluating each site and its capability of <br />providing the highest quality wetland. Areas evaluated for mitigation potential are <br />described below and depicted in (Figure 7). <br />a. Site 1 is located on the northern edge of the Breeze Basin violation area. This area <br />has been disturbed and is currently being used as stockpile area for topsoil removed <br />from the gravel pit. This area is approximately 3 acres in size and has access to <br />hydrology from the river and Deep Cut Ditch. One concern with this area is that <br />lies within the 100 flood plain of the Yampa River. Site 1 is located on agricultural <br />grazing land and it would be difficult to protect the established wetlands long term. <br />b. Site 2 is the violation site at the Breeze Basin pit where wetlands existed originally. <br />The oxbow has been excavated, and to reclaim this area would require extensive <br />work and significant expansion of the original wetland area. This area would have <br />access to hydrology from the Deep Cut Ditch; however, to create a self sustaining <br />wetland a significant portion of this area would have to be graded near the ground <br />water table. Groundwater depletion from the adjacent pit could be a difficult <br />obstacle to overcome. This area would be adjacent to an active gravel pit, as <br />mining operations continue to the south across the permitted mining boundary. <br />There would not be a buffer adjacent to the reestablished wetland or self sustaining <br />hydrology until the gravel pit is reclaimed. <br />c. Site 3 is the Breeze Basin pit area where mining operations will continue for the <br />next few years. The reclamation plan for Breeze Basin Pit calls for a 30 acre+/ - <br />pond that will have fringe wetlands associated with its banks. The area of the fringe <br />wetlands would be approximately 1.5 acres. Wetland area would have to be <br />expanded by creating shelves, islands, or peninsulas in the pond to compensate for <br />the 3:1 replacement ratio. The time lapse between the reclamation of the gravel pit <br />and the creation of wetlands would increase temporal loss of wetland functions. <br />d. Site 4 is a reclaimed gravel pit and existing pond created by Elam. The site has not <br />been released from DRMS and is still considered an active portion of the Bunn <br />Ranch Pit. This site remains active for access to minable properties to the north and <br />the east. The idea was proposed to fill portions of the pond and create shelf, island, <br />and peninsula wetland areas. Some of the existing functioning wetlands would <br />have to be disturbed to utilize this site for mitigation. This site would be subject to <br />future disturbance from adjacent mining operations. <br />e. Site 5 is located at the northern edge of the Bunn Ranch Pit. This area has been <br />mined out and consists of a series of ponds that are bordered by large berms on the <br />north and east that protect the entire property from spring flooding. Areas to the <br />north and east are future potential mining sites. Adjacent areas to the south and <br />west will be part of a large scale reclamation pending site release to DRMS of the <br />entire 215 acre parcel. There is adequate space and hydrology to develop wetland <br />WestWater Engineering Page 10 of 24 July 2012 <br />