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COLORADO <br /> Division of Water Resources <br /> Department of Natural Resources <br /> May 9, 2024 <br /> Michelle L. Hatcher <br /> Clear Water Solutions <br /> 4750 Larimer Parkway Unit 101 <br /> Johnstown, CO 80534 <br /> Re: NCCI Pit #1 Substitute Water Supply Plan (WDID 0202566) - AMENDMENT <br /> NCCI Pit #1, M-2001-107 (WDID 0203016) <br /> Section 24, T 2N, R 67W, 6th P.M. <br /> Water Division 1, Water District 2, Weld County <br /> SWSP Plan ID 3670 <br /> Approval period: January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 <br /> Contact for Michelle L. Hatcher: 970-223-3706 and michelle@clearwatercolorado.com <br /> Dear Michelle L. Hatcher: <br /> We have received the April 18, 2024 amendment request for the above-referenced substitute water supply <br /> plan ("SWSP") to cover depletions caused by an existing gravel mining operation operated by Northern <br /> Colorado Constructors, Inc. ("NCCI" or "Applicant"), which was purchased by the City of Thornton. The <br /> required fee of $257.00 for the renewal of this SWSP has been submitted (receipt no. 10035483). The <br /> original supply plan was approved on December 30, 2002 and the SWSP was most recently renewed on <br /> January 29, 2024. This letter amends and supersedes the version the plan approved on January 29, 2024. <br /> Plan Operation <br /> Mining operations at the NCCI Pit #1 began in mid-2003 and have since ceased. This plan seeks to replace <br /> all remaining lagged depletions that extend through 2026 resulting from evaporation and dewatering at the <br /> NCCI Pit #1. The liner for the pit was approved in November 2023, therefore there are no ongoing <br /> evaporative depletions during this plan period. The lagged depletions will be replaced using fully <br /> consumable effluent provided by the City of Thornton ("Thornton"). <br /> In accordance with the letter dated April 30, 2010 (copy attached) from the Colorado Division of <br /> Reclamation, Mining, and Safety ("DRMS"), all sand and gravel mining operators must comply with the <br /> requirements of the Colorado Reclamation Act and the Mineral Rules and Regulations for the protection of <br /> water resources. The April 30, 2010 letter from DRMS requires that the Applicant provide information to <br /> DRMS to demonstrate they can replace long term injurious stream depletions that result from mining related <br /> exposure of groundwater. The DRMS letter identifies four approaches to satisfy this requirement. In <br /> accordance with approach no. 3, the Applicant has indicated that a bond has been obtained for $486,745 <br /> that can cover the cost of lining the NCCI Pit #1 to prevent the exposure of groundwater. <br /> Depletions <br /> Past net evaporative depletions were calculated using a gross annual evaporation of 45 inches (based on <br /> the NOAA Technical Report NWS 33) from the exposed groundwater surface, with a credit of 9.4 inches for <br /> effective precipitation based on an average precipitation of 13.4 inches per year (Brighton Weather Station, <br /> period of record 1973-2020). The mining operation was continuously dewatered directly back to the South <br /> Platte River since mining operations commenced in 2003. Lagged depletions are owed from evaporation <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 821, Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866.3581 www.colorado.gov/water yei <br /> Jared Polis, Governor I Dan Gibbs, Executive Director I Jason T. Ullmann, State Engineer/Director OI <br /> f 1876{` <br />