2016-04-18_PERMIT FILE - M2016010 (6)

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Geologic and Hydrologic Reasons for Not Approving Application Risk to Residents'Ground Water Supply As an exploration geologist I have spent a significant portion of my forty year career attempting to predict and understand hydrocarbon fault traps as well as fractured reservoirs. Although all of my professional experience dealt with hydrocarbons,I believe my understanding of fractured reservoirs and faults as fluid barriers are applicable to ground water as well. The only source of household/domestic water in the area is water wells. The primary aquifer is the Pikes Peak Granite,which produces from fractures in the crystalline rock. Other wells have been completed in localized alluvium lenses and in the Fountain Sandstone,but could be expected to be in communication with the primary aquifer. Most of these wells are marginal producers,typically under 10 CFM,with many requiring a cistern to meet normal household needs. This is a fragile water system requiring protection. The Westcliffe earthquake (2008, magnitude 2.5,48 miles southwest of the proposed quarry location) caused a water well in the area of the proposed quarry location to immediately quit producing and required a new well to be drilled. Although on a larger scale but in the same hydrological environment,the granite removal which took place during the building of the NORAD complex stopped most of the ground water supply to large areas down gradient. The permit should not be approved for many reasons,but my objections here will be geologic and hydrologic. Because of the complex structural geologic setting and the characteristics of the aquifer system,a quarry operation at this location has a significant possibility of disrupting or diverting ground water and surface water. If this happens it is impossible to predict how it would impact the surrounding domestic water wells. • The billion-plus years of almost continuous structural deformation and uplift surrounding the Pikes Peak batholith has created an area of fractured rock and a very faulted terrain. • The proposed area to be quarried is at the intersection of major faults and aquifers in fractured rock. • The ground water recharge and surface water is funneled through a canyon that narrows to 300 feet when entering the quarry. • The flow through the quarry is in and below the Little Turkey Creek creekbed and alluvium. Based on Transit Mix coring,this is a highly fractured fault zone. Deadman Creek has the same situation,with drainage through the quarry in a highly faulted creekbed.