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The disturbed bench from the Farnsworth #2 Gravel Pit is located immediately adjacent to the site to the east. This bench is mostly flat and devoid of vegetation. No runoff enters the new 110 area from this site. A small ditch is also located on the west boundary, near the existing fence, which prevents runoff from entering the site from the west. A full wetland study is being conducted in June of 2004. It is expected that this study will reveal that wetlands exist in the depression shown on Map B-1 as well as along the river banks. Other wetlands exist in the ditch to the south of the property but these will not be affected by the operation. A 404 permit will be applied for with the Corps of Engineer's office in Grand Junction, once the results of the wetland study are obtained. This permit will cover the temporary removal of the wetlands in the depression area and the low water crossing across the river. In any case, the wetlands to be restored as part of the reclamation process will far exceed the amount temporarily disturbed, in size and func- tion and value. Away from the floodplain meadow, which has been historically imgated by the landowner, the sur- roundinghills in the Mancos Shale are relatively barren with poor soil and vegetation. The 100 year 24 hour rainfall event for this area is only 2.6 inches. 4. Groundwater Hydrology Alluvial groundwater levels are approximately 4-10 feet from the surface in the permit area, depend- ing upon the time of year when irrigation is being used and also, depending upon the river level. During irrigation season, water moves through the irrigated fields to the gravels below and then along the shale contact to the river. When irrigation is off, the water still moves in the same direction but to a much lesser degree. Water levels are easily seen by the existing pond in the southeast por- tion of the permit area, which verify the depths stated above. Immediately below the alluvial gravel are the thick impermeable layers of the Mancos Shale which cannot provide any usable water. The gravel is approximately 17-25 feet thick below a topsoil zone of 0-1 feet thickness. The shales im- mediatelybelow the gravel deposit prevent any recharge from the gravel into deep aquifers that might be located below the shales. No water wells are located on the Farnsworth property or within any reasonable distance to the permit area. No wells downstream or upstream can be affected by the proposed gravel mining. The quality of the ground water found from pit pumping is expected to be similar to that of the River, which is described in the Surface Water hydrology section. When pit pumping is taking place, water will likely be drawn from the river itself and also from irrigation wa- ter movement along the shale contact. For the 3-4 year period that mining will occur in this permit area, water will be pumped from the pit to the Farnsworth Collection Ditch, which will discharge to the River. The pit water is pumped into North Fork Pit Mazch 04