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__07/21/OJ 14:14 HAX d7U szs~a __., '1Haaa • ~~., The applicant claims the pit will be a "dry" operation. Reported drilling of test holes by Lambert & Associates of Montrose, (we have as yet to be provided a copy of their report) suggested to the applicant there was between 20 and 60 feet of depth to Mancos Shale bedrock beneath the site. We believe these are reasonable estimates, as we observed gravel in west fork of Me-~cican Gulch to be 20-30 feet in thickness. In tha casting Metcalf Pit, imntedia:ely east of the proposed operation it is 50-60 feet in depth. The entire site is underlain by Mancos Shale beneath the gravels, with varying elevations on undulatng anduchann~elizedebysprevious flows of the Uncompaghre,River.ot planer, rather The currant hydrologic conditions arc wch that natural precipitation, non-consumed irrigation application (approximately SO%) and leakage from ditches and canals recharge the mesa gravels. Wlten this recharge encounters shale bedrock, saturates thep ragrv ps and moves laterally down gradient (usually in a direction similar to the surface too a h) it issues from springs at the base of the gravels along the arroyos which have eroded through the gravels into the shale bedrock. A prime example of large rechargdirrigation return Clow springs are those at Silver Springs Trout Farm, which flow at rates varying from 500 to 1000 gpnt after ntid-irrigation season. Testunony from local residents immediately east of the proposed pit indicate the Metcalf Pit, which now contains an excavated pond at it's base, 5lls with water during spring and summer months and water levels decline once irrigation season terminates, until it is dry (last yeaz) from late fall through winter. This has been observed in numerous locations along the rim of Spring Creek Mesa, including springs on the Bean Ranch. Phyreatophyte (w'a[er seeking) vegetation located in the arroyos southeast of the Pit, and more particulazly in the small arroyo located at the Metcalf Pit northward to Lasalle Road (and beyond on tha Applehanz Farm) are obvious testimony to the semi-perennial nature of groundwater discharge along rite Mesa. Prior to the USBR "winter stock water program', which supplied dontcstic water taps for stock in automatic waterers, ditch and canal leakage alone kept many springs running all year. The Hillside Homestead (owned by Joyce and Harold Nation) is located in the NWl/4, NW 1/4, Section 19, itnntedintcly adjacent to and east of 6200 Road, the eastern proposed boundary of the Pit. The Nation's have adjudicated water rights on several springs and ponds under Division 4 District Water Court in Case #93CW242. Water Judge Robert Brown decreed the springs artd ponds absolute on June 15, 1994. The decree specifies and spells out the operation of the springs and ponds as issuing surface water beginning in spring through summer wtd fall months. 7-hc water is adjudicated for wildlife, livestock, irrigation and sub•irrigation of wetlands. Flows from the springs are individually adjudicated as high as 0.30 cfs (135 gpm), with storage rights of up to 0.42 acre-feet in one pond alont. The elevation of the Nation Springs and ponds is approxitrtatcly :0 feet below Spring Creek Mesa surface. The elevation of the water level in the Metcalf Pit Pond is similar. We hive concluded that there can be no other source for then water tights but subsurface irrigation water recharge from irrigated bards to the west artd southwest. In addition, the Bean Spring (observed) also receives recharge and flows fiunt irrigated lands to the west. The er~avation of this gravel deposit to shale