2025-07-21_HYDROLOGY - M2008082 (2)

Home Browse Search

Morton Lakes Substitute Water Supply Plan Renewal (Amended) July 21, 2025 Page 15 of 17 20. In accordance with the letter dated April 30, 2010 (copy attached) from the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety ("DRMS"), all sand and gravel mining operators must comply with the requirements of the Colorado Reclamation Act and the Mineral Rules and Regulations for the protection of water resources. The April 30, 2010 letter from DRMS requires that you provide information to DRMS to demonstrate you can replace long term injurious stream depletions that result from mining related exposure of groundwater. The DRMS letter identifies four approaches to satisfy this requirement. In accordance with approach nos. 1 and 3, you have indicated that a bond has been obtained for $4,150,000 for the Morton-Holton Lakes site through the DRMS to assure that depletions from groundwater evaporation do not occur in the unforeseen event or events that would lead to the abandonment of the Pit. 21 .All releases of replacement water must be sufficient to cover all out of priority depletions and be made under the direction and/or approval of the Water Commissioner (including the proposed aggregated replacement for winter depletions). 22.The approval of this SWSP does not relieve the Applicant and/or landowner of the requirement to obtain a Water Court decree approving a permanent plan for augmentation or mitigation to ensure the permanent replacement of all depletions, including long-term evaporation losses and lagged depletions after gravel mining operations have ceased. If reclamation of the mine site will produce a permanent water surface exposing groundwater to evaporation, an application for a plan for augmentation must be filed with the Division 1 Water Court at least three (3) years prior to the completion of mining to include, but not be limited to, long-term evaporation losses and lagged depletions. If a lined pond results after reclamation, replacement of lagged depletions shall continue until there is no longer an effect on stream flow.