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• (Page 2j • MINE ID aK OR PROSPECTING ID ay M-77-205 INSPECTION DATE 7-12-99 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS SSS This was apre-operational inspection of the expansion area proposed to be added to the Tri County Gravel Pit, through amendment application AM-O7. The 93.5 acre area lies entirely within the boundaries of land owned by Thomas Curry and lies adjacent to the current 24.2 acre Tri County Gravel Pit. The expansion site includes an area on the North Fork of the Gunnison River, but no instream mining is proposed in the proposed expansion. Mining on the new area is proposed to be conducted with loaders, backhoes, and draglines loading pit run onto trucks. The mining plan will create several ponds, due to the high groundwater elevation in the parcel. The area proposed as the firs[ mining area is located in an area that was washed out by high water in previous years. The washout occurred when a dike between the proposed expansion area and the river experienced a blowout. The dike has since been repaired. The washed out area has become a gravel covered crescent that is now partially grown over with vegetation. This area, as well as a few others on this proposed site have the vegetative characteristics of a wetland. The operator indicated that he has hired a consultant to perform a wetland survey of the site. Some of the potential wetland areas appear to have been created by agricultural irrigation. Once determined, any wetland areas on the proposed site will need to be included in the site description, in the vegetation and soils exhibits and addressed in the mining and reclamation pans. If wetlands are found to be present, the operator is encouraged to notify the Army Corps of Engineers of this finding to determine what measures are necessary to conduct mining operations in a wetland. The operator is strongly encouraged to develop a mine plan that minimizes adverse affects to any wetlands that are found. Wetlands are limited and very important habitat for many wildlife species. Adverse affects to these wetlands should be minimized. Much of the proposed mining area is weedy pastureland that the operator has interseeded in an attempt to establish grasses that drive out the weeds. It appears that progress is being made in this direction. Several of the higher ground areas of the expansion area are irrigated alfalfa fields. The operator indicated that these areas would be left unaffected for as long as possible, with a few of them possibly not being mined at all. The first mining area, described above, has mostly exposed cobble on the surface. The banks that were created by the washout are several feet high and appear to consist of mostly overburden with and soil. During the flooding, the operator created several trenches around the outside of the southeast corner of the washed out area. These trenches were filled with concrete to create a barrier that would stop the erosion. The erosion didn't reach these barriers at that time, so they remain in place as protection from future flooding of this type. The southwest corner of this crescent does not have any bank protection. The operator will need to include a bank stabilization proposal, for this area, in the amendment application. There are railroad tracks along the southeast boundary of the proposed expansion area. The operator has indicated a desire to revise the permit boundary so it does not encroach closer to the railroad right-of-way than 200 feet so the subject of stability demonstrations does not have to be addressed for this structure. There are several fences around the site. The operator owns all fences within the permit boundaries, and maintains all fences around the perimeter of his property. However, the operator will need to identify the owner of those fences to determine if damage waiver agreements are required for them. Cottonwood Creek runs through the proposed expansion area. This creek was not addressed in the application and must be included in the Water Information exhibit. If the channel of this creek is to be affected in any way, the specifics of those affects need to be included in the application. The water information section must also address how the irrigation program and the mining program will interact. Specifically, how mining will be conducted so that irrigation does not create erosion problems on the site or lead to increased off-site transport of sediment via irrigation waters. The operator indicated that an effort would be made to protect the large cottonwood trees on the proposed site. This is commendable. It is also recommended that patches of trees be left where possible across the site as shelter for wildlife and livestock.