Laserfiche WebLink
A full wetland study is being conducted in June of 2004. It is expected that this study will reveal that <br /> wetlands exist in the depression shown on Map B-1 as well as along the river banks. Other <br /> wetlands exist in the ditch to the south of the property but these will not be affected by the <br /> operation. No wetlands will be disturbed in the process of mining this permit. <br /> Away from the floodplain meadow, which has been historically irrigated by the landowner,the sur- <br /> rounding hills in the Mancos Shale are relatively barren with poor soil and vegetation. The 100 year <br /> 24 hour rainfall event for this area is only 2.6 inches. <br /> 4. Groundwater HvdroloEv <br /> Alluvial groundwater levels are approximately 4-10 feet from the surface in the permit area, depend- <br /> ing upon the time of year when irrigation is being used and also, depending upon the river level. <br /> During irrigation season, water moves through the irrigated fields to the gravels below and then <br /> along the shale contact to the river. When irrigation is off, the water still moves in the same <br /> direction but to a much lesser degree. Water levels are easily seen by the existing pond in the <br /> southeast portion of the permit area, which verify the depths stated above. Immediately below the <br /> alluvial gravel are the thick impermeable layers of the Mancos Shale which cannot provide any <br /> usable water. The gravel is approximately 17-25 feet thick below a topsoil zone of 0-1 feet <br /> thickness. The shales immediately below the gravel deposit prevent any recharge from the gravel <br /> into deep aquifers that might be located below the shales. No water wells are located on the <br /> Farnsworth property or within any reasonable distance to the permit area. No wells downstream or <br /> upstream can be affected by the proposed gravel mining. No water will be pumped to facilitate the <br /> mining of this pit. <br /> During mining in this permit area, no water will be pumped from the pit to the Farnsworth <br /> Collection Ditch, since no pumping will occur. No chemicals or pumping will be used for this <br /> operation. <br /> 5. Historical Land Use <br /> The actual site was used as an irrigated alfalfa field and irrigated pasture sporadically for many <br /> years prior to this proposed pit. The area was leveled in the early 1980's and was re-levelled in 1989 <br /> for irrigation. If irrigation was not used in a particular year,the site was inactive and not used at all. <br /> 5 <br /> North Fork Pit March 04 <br />