Laserfiche WebLink
be addressed based upon the specific location and nature of the impact. If, due <br />to dewatering, or other mining or reclamation activities, changes in groundwater <br />elevation may create adverse impacts to adjacent properties, the adjacent <br />property owners will be notified and the impacts will be addressed to the <br />satisfaction of the Division. <br />Wetlands and woody riparian vegetation will be monitored for indications of <br />adverse dewatering effects. Wetland areas have been visually inventoried prior <br />to mining on adjacent affected area. Significant effects, such as plant loss or loss <br />of soil moisture, will trigger mitigation if over 0.1 acres of jurisdictional resources <br />are affected. A representative sampling of cottonwoods along the Fountain Creek <br />will be monitored on a annual basis for branch growth and tree crown volume. <br />Mitigation will be triggered by negative trends (e.g., no branch growth, live crown <br />loss) for two successive monitoring periods in both indicators. <br />Mitigation Plan <br />The design of the Sundance operation contains a number of features that should <br />prevent significant, injurious impacts to groundwater dependent resources. The <br />use of slurry walls for large areas of extraction will eliminate the need for <br />continuous dewatering. The property is large, allowing for a buffer between the <br />affected area and adjacent properties; dewatering during the operation is limited <br />to certain years in which areas to be reclaimed to agriculture are being mined. <br />The operator will construct a recharge trench in the southeastern corner of the <br />site at an appropriate time to accommodate mining the affected area in that <br />location. <br />If dewatering or other mining or reclamation activities at the Sundance <br />Resources site creates injuries to surrounding wells, the applicant will take all <br />necessary actions to remedy the injuries. If water levels are dropping in adjacent <br />wells, such that well owners' historic water production may be injured, the <br />applicant will begin to implement one or more of the following measures. <br />However, if the well has not been put to beneficial use prior to mining, or does <br />not have the legal right to operate, the applicant should have no responsibility to <br />provide mitigation. Mitigation measures may include, but are not limited to: <br />1. Modify existing wells to operate under lower groundwater conditions. This <br />would include re-drilling existing wells to deeper depths or lowering the <br />pumps. All work would be at the applicant's expense with the exception of <br />replacing equipment that was non-functional prior to mining. <br />2. If existing wells cannot be repaired, the applicant will drill a new well for <br />the owner to replace the damaged well. The new well will produce water <br />of the same quantity and quality to support historic use. <br />