2023-01-04_PERMIT FILE - M2022013 (8)

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Page 13 6.4.4 EXHIBIT D — Extraction Plan rivers (hence, the Two Rivers Sand Gravel and Reservoir Project (Two Rivers Project; or TRP); and overlies bedrock that varies in depths as shallow as 20± feet in some locations, and more commonly 30-45± feet in depth from the surface. The permit area is flanked on its immediate western boundary by agricultural operations. To the north, residential uses expand, as remnant agriculture clings to the rising ground. Unfettered agricultural and rangeland uses still thrive as they extend beyond the permit boundary east, west, and south of the permit boundary along the alluvial influences of the two rivers. To the immediate east of the TRP, riverine lands are under active transformation into a created wetland bank. It should be understood that agricultural practices will remain active over the project area until converted by resource recovery and reclamation. America's first Transcontinental Railroad was being discussed in the 1840's, and surveyed in the 1850's. The railroads began the transformation of the American West on 10 May 1869 at Promontory Point, Utah. Railroad routes were being planned for this location and surrounding lands likely soon after the end of America's Civil War. The lines planned over the Two Rivers parcels were never built. Other lines were built nearby, like the Union Pacific's Dent line, that runs parallel to this day along the south bank of the South Platte River; and below the TRP. With area railroads came increased settlement, and with population the nature of the landscape became modified to complement growing market economies of agriculture and commerce since the early 1870's. We estimate the lands hugging the two rivers were farmed and the topography gradually manipulated for agriculture following the early establishment of Greeley and LaSalle, Colorado; in 1869-70. Area crops are commonly in corn, but this has not always been the case. We postulate that near the onset of the Twentieth Century sugar beet farming began to feed the demand of area sugar beet mills, further evidenced by speculative railroad routes over and near the parcel, itself. So, the appearance of the land that we see today, is commonly different than what it appeared at the time of settlement. In order to improve the area and extent of tillable lands, even early agricultural practices included landform modification to aid the plow. Prior floodplain modification is evidenced today by the historical placement of utilitarian levees flanking the existing agricultural fields along the outer cottonwood tree lined escarpments of each river. The levees are maintained to this day, and form perimeter access to the rivers and tillable fields. VARRA COMPANIES, INC. TWO RIVERS SAND GRAVEL AND RESERVOIR PROJECT MARCH 2O22 A REGULAR IMPACT[1121 CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION-COLORADO DIVISION OF RECLAMATION MIING&SAFETY OFFICE OF MINED LAND RECLAMATION