2019-07-15_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1988044

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GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: No unusual or unexpected geologic conditions were encountered in the last year. Most sand extraction occurred within the previous mine footprint. In short,the mining has mostly gone rack and cleaned out remaining sand in areas previously mined. Most mining was guided by what was needed to do the reclamation. HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: No groundwater was encountered in the mining pit operated in the past year. As has been the case in the past, accumulation of water in the pit seeps into the ground fairly quickly except where clay forms the substrate. For the most part the pit bottom remains dry. However, the wet winter and spring did cause the accumulation of a lot of water in ponds, some of which are fairly deep, especially in the low spots on the north end of the pit. The wet conditions have hindered completion of shaping the floor of the pit or getting access to others areas. Drier weather will allow this to produce a firmer bottom. CLIMATIC SHIFT IN LAST YEAR: As noted in the 2018 report, about mid May 2018 the weather began to dry out considerably. Rain was sparse and temperatures tended to be well above normal. As the two climate charts for DIA on the next page shows,that shift lasted the rest of the year. By the end of 2018 the soil moisture deficit reached extreme levels. Talk about a weak to moderate El Nino provided some hope, but nothing happened until mid January 2019. At that point El Nino kicked in and there was an abrupt change in the weather that lasted all the way to July. Snow was abundant and temperatures in February, March, and part of April were cold and near record setting. By July moisture received was about 2 inches above normal. This moisture was very effective because so much melted and went into the soil rather than into the air as often happens in the winter. Strangely,the snows that fell were often more like Spring snows as they were very wet rather than being more like the 20:1 snow usually received in the winter that can be deep but contains very little actual moisture. In 2019 the snows were more like 6:1 to 12:1 moisture ratios. This replenished soil moisture, even down deep in the subsoil. The drought in Colorado ended as some areas in the State received more than twice the normal snowfall, but most about 150% of normal. Once again though, the depth was one thing, but the moisture content was even greater than that depth would usually contain. At the Lowry Range, Spring was a beautiful rich green, something that had not happened in a few years. Range grass growth was stupendous. But the flip side to that is that the weeds,particularly Cheat Grass (Bromus tectorum)was also stupendous. Other weeds were about normal. By the second week of July 2019,the weather turned hot and dry, finally. But the productivity at that point was so great and seed production so prodigious, a little dryness will just allow seed ripening. Next year should see production of a great number of seedlings if the weather stays reasonably normal for the next year. RECLAMATION PERMIT STATUS: No changes were made to the permit in the last year. However, a release inspection was requested for the last remaining reclaimed area that was planted in 2014. It probably could have been released last year after the DRMS periodic inspection. However, the weather was so dry and the vegetation equally dry. So, it was decided to wait and see if growing conditions improved so it could be determined whether the vegetation was really established. The release request will be approved. Status report for 2019 due July 15, 2019 Page 2 of 5