HYDRO31311

• Permit No: M1978056
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 2/2/2004
• Doc Name: Issue of the Floodway
• From: Weld County
• To: Varra Companies Inc.
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

SPECIALISTS IN POTATOES
OFFICE PHONE: [phone]
FAX K PHONE: [phone]
Attention: Tom Schreiner
Division of Minerals and Geology
1313 Sherman St.
Room 216
Denver Co. 80203
303-866-3567
2438 E. 8TH ST., BOX 818
GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
SEASONAL: COLORADO -ARIZONA - TE%AS
December 17, 2003
RE:
A.) Varra Companies, Inc. Application for a Regular Construction Materials Operation Reclamation
Permit for the Durham Sand and Gravel Pit located at or near Sections 9 and 1Q, Township 5 north, range
65 west, 6th prime Meridian, Weld County, Colorado.
B.) The violations of raising the Berm or Dike in the Floodway on the southside of the river.
CJ Development or drilling of new well on Varra's property.
Dear Mr. Schreiner,
We at Bliss Produce Co. are very concerned with the Permit and the existing violations that Varra
Companies are committing. Acceptance of the new permit could give Varra more rights on the Floodway
issue and opportunity to extend the buildup of their berm or dike in elevation. Varra Co. Inc. are south
of the Cache La Poudre River and in the Floodwav. We are North of the Cache La Poudre river and in
the Flood Plain. The new studies done by the City Of Greeley, Confirm that Varra is in the Floodway as it
was in the old study. FEMA is still not decided or made a new decision on the new findings. Whether or
not FEMA will adopt the new findings that the City Of Greeley has made, Varra Co. will still be in the
Floodway due to [he natural flow of the flood drainage elevations. Enclosed are the new maps for the City
of Greeley Floodway and Floodplain and a letter verifying our claims from the City of Greeley, Office of
Community Development..
We, Bliss Produce Co, aze very concerned about Flooding occurring along the Bliss's and Varra's
property boundaries if a flood does occur, Varra Co. Inc. has raised the elevation of the Dike or Berm
south ofthe river. The original elevation ofthe Berm was supposed to be no more 8 FEET hieh from the
river bed on the original permit given to Varra by The Division of Minerals and Geology. One can
visually see from the existing old Cottonwood trees that the Berm continues to be elevated since the top of
the berm is a tot higher than the the original berm elevation where the old Cottonwood trees are. Also, we
have personally seen them and have taken pictures showing Varra elevating the berm with the use of
dump trucks and front end loaders dumping dirt on the berm. A person can see the new dirt foundation
that has been laid down because no new weeds or bushes have grown and the rotor of the dirt is different
than the original dirt. Also, they are pumping water out oftheir pits into the river, and you can see where
the pipes are compared to the top ofthe dike. The water drainage pipes were placed on top of the
original dike. (Note how much higher the dike is at this time, pichues 1, 2, 3, & 4.)