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• Mr. Michael Stanton January 18, 1984 Page Three 14. Item 3 - 4Ve had contacted in September of 1983, the Army Corps of Engineers in Grand Junction concerning appropriate procedures for compliance with them. We have received instruction on operation and compliance of their procedure. 15. Item 4 - In dealing with gravel extraction in river pits and the affect our activity may have on the Hydrology of the river, we had taken several steps. IVe have consulted with the Army Corps of Engineers, the State Department of Health and the local water referee for imput. Our mining activity has no effect on existing water rights since no water diversion structures are in close proximity to mining sites. IVith the use of settling ponds on the downstream side of our activity, we will control turbidity. This is the only concern in terms of water quality. We have consulted the Corps of Engineers in Grand Junction concerning our activity and le:asening our impact on the surrounding area. Our mining plan for the river pits has been amended to include temporary channelization so that equipment will not be working in the water, removal of this channelization after each mining activity and use, and removal of siltation structures. Our activity has another possitive aspect on the river and adjacent lands. ThE~ river in recent flood seasons, has accumu- lated gravel bars c¢~using flooding and erosion on adjacent lands. The land owners involved have come to the County for purchase of gravel with the Y~ope of removal of some of the accumulated gravel in order to Ease this flooding/erosion potential. The Lee Pit in particular, has a tendency to build gravel bars in proximity to a bridge abutment. With gravel extraction we have been able to alleviate this problem. Our activity in the river has been closely controlled to not produce a channelization effect, to not produce changes in the course of the river and skill extract needed gravel and producing flood control measures. Our activity does not deepen the river channel; therefore, it is the County's position that our extraction activities do not adversely affect the hydrology of the river. We consulted local D.O.IV. staff concerning D.O.N.'s concerns for impacts on fisheries, waterfowl nesting and winter habitats for the bald eagle. Their feeling was that the river is a marginal fisheries stream and with the precautions set down about our activity, will have minimum affect.