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<br />Mined Land Reclamation <br />-2- <br /> <br />August 9, 1977 <br />nearly 1500 acre-feet of water a ally from the Gunnison <br />and Colorado Rivers. This eV ation loss is sufficient <br />to irrigate approximately 70 `es of crops or provide <br />household water for 3000 s. When combined with <br />the additional water loss aused by transpiration from <br />166 cottonwood trees and 1810 Russian olive trees (Exhibit <br />L), these losses are unacceptable especially in light of the <br />potential impact upon other water users as a result of the <br />effect of these losses tl,pon the Colorado River Compact <br />and the Upper Colorado River Compact. While we realize <br />that gravel pit lakes are sometimes an unavoidable conse- <br />quence of mining, it would appear that actions can be taken <br />to minimize the impact of these operations upon the hydro- <br />logic balance of the area as requested by the state statutes. <br />These actions could include acquiring water rights for <br />replacement of net evaporation losses, isolating the gravel <br />pit lake from hydraulic connection with the river by lining <br />it with an impervious material such as clay, backfilling the <br />lake as much as practicable with overburden, or developing <br />an artificial ground water recharge plan that will compen- <br />sate the river for net evaporation losses. We would be <br />willing to meet with the Boanl to discuss these alternatives <br />if it would be helpful. <br />~iper 4 <br />CJK/SSH:mvf <br />cc: Lee Enewold, Div. Eng. <br />Grand Valley Water Users Assn. <br />Colorado River Water Conservancy District <br />