INSPEC26892

• Permit No: M1999034
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 11/13/2000
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE G~ COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
DeUanmenl of Natural Resources
7113 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone] MEMO TO FILE
FAX: [phone]
Date: Thursdav. November 09. 2000 ~~
Specialis[: Allen Sorenson Signed: ~~~'r'" ~~T" '- -
Subject/Operator/Operadon/File No. Water Well Problems Reported by Nearbv landowner.
CAMAS Colorado lnc..Coolev Reservoir & Fulton Wildlife Area. Permit No. M-1999-034
Type of Interaction: Meeting Phone Other
Person(s) contacted and affiliation: Doroth~Ford. Neazb~ Landowner. 719/942.4587
Summary and Resolution of Interaction:
DIVISION OF
MINERALS
GEOLOGY
RECLAMATION
MINING•$AFETY
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walther
Executive Director
Michael R. Lang
Division Director
Ms. Ford owns the land at the southeast comer of 104 Avenue and McKay Road. She reports that
difficulties with her well began when CAMAS constructed a ditch to divert water away from the
slurry wall construction project. The well water became muddy, and subsequently the formation in
the well bore collapsed. She further states that since the slurry wall was installed, a pond has formed
on a neighbor's land. Ms. Ford hypothesizes that the construction and operation of the diversion
ditch drew down the alluvial aquifer. The water table was then elevated to higher than natttral levels
due to mounding behind the slurry wall. She believes this fluctuation in the water levels caused her
well to collapse. The well was drilled in the 1920s or thereabouts and is cased to 35 feet. The well
itself is reported to be several hundred feet deep. Given Lhe age of the well it is likely that it is not
sealed from the alluvial aquifer or surface water.
Ms. Ford reports that CAMAS has been contacted, that they inspected her well and told her that their
activities did not cause the well to collapse. She believes that it is too great of a coincidence that her
previously problem free well collapsed at the enact time of the slurry wall operation. She stated that
CAMAS had at one time offered to monitor the well prior to and during operation of the gravel pit,
but that CAMAS never followed-up on the offer. In a brief review of the file, I determined that
CAMAS has committed to a ground water monitoring plan and to provide results in the annual
reclamation report. The first annual report was submitted 9/19/00, but does not include any ground
water monitoring data.
I told Ms. Ford that if she wrote a letter describing her situation, that we would schedule a high
priority inspection to be conducted within no more than 30 days, and would investigate the matter.
Ms. Ford no longer lives on the property at 104f° and McKay, but gave her permission for the Division
to access the property and inspect the well pit, etc. She stated that the old farmhouse on her property
had burned down and there is now a mobile home on the land.
cc: Cazl Mount, DMG