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PERMIT#: M-1993-035 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: ECS <br /> INSPECTION DATE:August 20, 2020 <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> This was a DRMS inspection conducted of the Swan River Resource as a result of a citizen compliant. On July 30, 2020, <br /> DRMS received a citizen complaint filed on-line by Mr. Kermit Miller alleging excessive turbidity in the Swan River due to <br /> mining activities being conducted at the Swan River Resource site. This inspection was conducted by DRMS <br /> representatives Eric Scott- lead environmental specialist for this site, Michael Cunningham-Senior Environmental <br /> Specialist, and Russ Means,Active Mines Director. At approximately 10:45 A.M. DRMS representatives met on-site with <br /> Summit County Open Space representatives Jason Lederer, and Brian Lorch, and the contract mining operator for <br /> Summit County at the site, represented by Tim Luttrell of Schofield Excavation. <br /> This site is a 40 acre active 112c permit, as well as the location of an ongoing, multi-agency, stream restoration project. <br /> Historically,the Swan River valley, including the site area,was heavily disturbed by in-stream gold dredging operations. <br /> These dredge operations destroyed the historic surface channel of the Swan River, leaving behind a valley floor <br /> composed of large cobble with very little fine grained sediment. As a result of this disturbance, the current flow of the <br /> Swan River is partially present at the surface in some areas as isolated surface pools and small intermittent channels; <br /> however, in other areas it completely disappears into the cobble of the valley floor and flows beneath the existing <br /> ground surface. This disappearing and re-appearing flow, especially during periods of low runoff, makes the effective <br /> management of surface water and shallow groundwater almost impossible in this area. Any attempt to capture or re- <br /> route surface flow only results in the flow moving into the subsurface cobble to continue down-valley. The goal of the <br /> ongoing stream restoration project is: to remove a large portion of the waste dredge cobble from the valley floor as <br /> marketable construction material, re-contour the remaining materials as necessary, and design and construct a new <br /> continuous surface channel and flood plain for the Swan River to much more closely replicate the pre-dredging riparian <br /> environment. A portion of this restoration project, located immediately downstream of the site, has already been <br /> successfully completed (photo 4). <br /> An outline of the surface channel to be constructed next season has been created in the downstream 1/3 of the permit <br /> area, and a detention area has been constructed at the downstream end of the site to prevent surface water/runoff <br /> from directly leaving the site. During this site inspection,water was observed flowing out of the cobble at the <br /> NW/downstream end of the site into the reconstructed surface channel (photos 2-4). No excessive turbidity was <br /> observed in the water leaving the site. It was also noted that no surface water was entering the active site area (photos <br /> 5 and 6). During this time of year, much of the water flows through the cobble in the subsurface as described above. <br /> DRMS encourages Summit County to visually monitor the water leaving the site for excessive turbidity, and if excessive <br /> turbidity is noted,to evaluate site activities in an effort to minimize any impacts. <br /> Summit County representatives stated that the active waste cobble processing and removal phase of the site work will <br /> be completed by the end of this field season, and the final stream channel reconstruction work within the permit area <br /> will take place in the field season of 2021. Summit County also acknowledged that there may be short, intermittent <br /> periods of increased turbidity in the immediate area during the channel reconstruction project, despite their best efforts <br /> to minimize it. This is largely unavoidable because there is no practical or cost effective way to usefully restrict the flow <br /> of water through the cobble beneath the active site, or re-route it around the project area once it moves into the <br /> subsurface cobble of the valley floor. In addition, some work below the static water level is necessary to daylight the <br /> Swan River and construct a new continuous surface flow channel. Summit County has provided an updated storm water <br /> management plan to CDPHE for review, but has not received any comments to-date. At this time, DRMS has received no <br /> other adverse water quality complaints from private citizens or other regulatory agencies as a result of activity at this <br /> site. <br /> Inspection Contact Address <br /> Brain Lorch <br /> Summit County and Town of Breckenridge <br /> P.O. Box 5660 <br /> Frisco, CO 80443 <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />