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Rifle Gravel Pit#1 April 2022 <br /> 8.1 Operational Water Depletions <br /> Water depletions will occur during mining operations from water lost with mined aggregate <br /> water used for dust suppression, and evaporation of exposed groundwater. On-site sourced <br /> water will not be used for potable water demands. After mining is completed water <br /> depletions from the pit will be solely from evaporation of the exposed groundwater in the <br /> finished gravel pit pond. <br /> Augmentation of the exposed and captured groundwater is required per Colorado's Revised <br /> Statutes to protect downstream senior water right holders and will be addressed by Scott <br /> Contracting, Inc. prior to subsurface mining. <br /> 8.2 Aquifers <br /> The groundwater aquifer/water table depth across the site varies from 3 feet to 8 feet below <br /> the surface. The aquifer is alluvial in nature and connected to the Colorado River. See <br /> Attachment C for information regarding the water depths at five boring locations. <br /> 8.3 Groundwater <br /> Mining operations will expose groundwater. The exposure of groundwater will necessitate <br /> augmentation during mining operations. Augmentation —via a decreed augmentation plan or <br /> a substitute water supply plan (SWSP) —will be in place with the State Engineers Office <br /> (SEO) prior to beginning subsurface mining activities to prevent potential injury to <br /> downstream water rights. The depletions from any captured or exposed groundwater from <br /> the Rifle Pit mining operations will have to be replaced in time, amount, and location during <br /> times of a downstream senior call. <br /> Evaporation from the post-mining exposed pond will require a decreed augmentation plan. <br /> Active mining operations may be covered by the same augmentation plan or may <br /> temporarily be covered by an SWSP. Scott Contracting, Inc. will file a Water Court <br /> application or contract with West Divide Water Conservancy District (or similar agency) <br /> under their decreed umbrella protection plan for an augmentation plan to replace depletions <br /> from the Rifle Pit operations (after active mining operations and during active mining <br /> operations). The process of obtaining a project specific court-approved decreed <br /> augmentation plan can take from 1-3 years, depending on negotiations with the Division of <br /> Water Resources (DWR- SEO) and any potential opposers. Therefore, Scott Contracting, <br /> Inc. will also file an application for a SWSP which will allow the gravel pit to operate without <br /> causing injury to other water rights holders before a final decree is entered, with temporary <br /> approval from the SEO. An SWSP can only be approved for one year, but the applicant may <br /> request renewal of the SWSP by repeating the application. <br /> There are no existing wells on or near the Rifle Pit property. GIS data from the DWR-SEO <br /> was used to confirm nearby wells, none of which are within 200 feet of the Permitted Area. <br /> The closest operating wells are on the adjacent property to the north, owned by Colorado <br /> River Ranch, LLC but are over 600 feet from the mining permit boundary. If any impact is <br /> detected by the well owners, Scott Contracting, Inc. will work with them to restore full <br /> function of said wells. Two other wells within 600 feet of the permit boundary have been <br /> identified but are unused. <br /> 8.4 Surface Water <br /> 46 <br />