INSPEC26153

• Permit No: M1982131
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 5/13/1994
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

(Page 2)
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M~NE ID / OR PR ~,~~ C~'I NG ID ~ M-62-131
INSPECTION DATE~~~S' 13 94
INSPECTOR'S INITIALS GSC
This was a partial, inspection conducted in response to a citizen complaint by Hr. Elmer
Andrews of 2434 C,Skreet NW in Greeley. He contacted Water Division One about potential well
injury from gray~iel~ operations conducting dewatering act iv iti.ee in the vicinity. These
concerns were pre ~nted to the Division of Minerals and Geology (Division) by rir. Shawn Hoff,
Water Comm.iesio ~r for Division One, District Three in a letter received on May 2, 1994. The
letter stated t~;~t~. Mr. Andrews wished to redrill well W-5122 but had concluded that the
alluvial aquifer.iQ completely drained. The purpose of the inspection was to determine if
pumping and dew~t~ring activi.t iee in the nearby mine operations could be impacting Mr.
Andrews' wells w ~iqh were decreed in 1973 and 1974. The Division's current understanding is
summarized ae fd,llddwe:
Mr. Andrews' We17as:
Andrews Well No ., 1 (Decreed in W-5122)
Total Depth == 48' below ground level (bgl), redrilled about 10 years ago,
drilled about 3 feet into shale underlying gravel (according to Mr.
Ahdrews), submersible pump suspended in 6" PVC casing; pump level unknown.
Wolf Well No. 2 (Decreed in w-2710)
Tptal depth ==21' bgl, 6" PVC casing, drilled approximately in 1958, pumped
'~ip paat with a 3 HP Monarch type A pump located on the surface at
',approximately 40 gpm. Wolf Well No. 2 is not being used at this time.
These wells are situated in th~a unconfined alluvial aquifer which is being dewatered by the
nearby sand and g avel pits. The wells and the pits are located in a broad alluvial plain
with little vari~ti<on in the ground elevation. Mr. Andrews uses his wells for livestock
water and .lawn aqd pasture irrigation on approximately 7 scree. He stated that historic
static water leve~s (SwL) ranged from 6 to 12 feet bgl in each well in the past 15 years.
The average etatiC bevel has been about 9' bgl in the past 3 to 4 years. Mr. Andrews has not
kept written watQt level records for his well and these levels and estimated. He also stated
that after pumping f;or about half an hour, production in the deeper well decreases and sand
and grit fouls p the irrigation system. The collar elevations for both wells are
approximately the same. The static water levels were measured with the Division's water
level indicator during this inspection and the results are noted as follows:
~,W X5122 - Andrews Well SWL = 17.50' bgl
~~W~2710 - Wo11.' Well SWL = 16.75' bgl
This represents ap apparent drop in the static water level of approximately 8 feet.
Buckles Equip~eat~CO. Pit
The Buckles Equipfieht Co. Pit is located approximately 900 feet northeast of Mr. Andrews'
wells. The ope>jation was inspected with Mr. Hoff and Mr. Andrews. The operator
representative, l~~. Richard Buckles, was also present during this inspection and answered
questions about the operation. The operating pit has been continuously dewatered since the
operation started and the pump is located about 1800 feet northeast of Mr. Andrews' wells.
The pumping rate is estimated i.n excess of 1,500 gpm. Mining has been completed in moat of
this pit except fo~~the northwest corner where the crusher and stockpiles have been located.
The pump was openati~ng during the inspection. The depth to the water level was estimated to
be 25 feet bgl at, the pump location near the north end of the pit. The measurement was made
with a clinometer. using the clinometer, the ground elevation at this location was
approximately level with that in a residential area along the southeast corner of the pit
(about 1400 feet southeast of t:he pump location).
East of the operating pit is a pre-1981 pit filled with water. No mining or dewatering has
taken place in this pit for a number of years and Mr. Buckles said that the water level had
remained relatively unchanged during that period. Within the last year, however, the level
has dropped about.,4 to 5 feet. The high water line was observed during this inspection to
be about 4 to 5 feetabove the current water level of the pond. This pond is located about
500 feet north of Md. Andrews' wells.
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