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6.4 Augmentation <br />Because groundwater depletions due to the mining operation are in <br />a stream system that is over appropriated, augmentation of the <br />consumptive use will be required. <br />The consumptive use at the site will be greatest at the completion <br />of mining when the final lake (phase 4 of mining) is allowed to <br />fill. At that time 96.76 acres of groundwater will be exposed. <br />However, there are presently 3 ponds on the site which total 10.34 <br />acres. A 1977 aerial photograph was inspected which indicates that <br />the ponds existed on the site prior to the grandfather date of <br />1981. <br />Consequently only the evaporation from 86.42 acres requires <br />augmentation. The annual evaporation from the reclaimed lakes that <br />will require augmentation will be 177.2 acre-feet. <br />Weld County owns senior water rights on Boulder Creek and on the <br />South Platte River which can be used as a source of augmentation <br />water. Below are some of the water rights that Weld County owns <br />which are available for use for augmentation of the subject <br />operation: <br />AVG. ANNUAL AVAILABLE <br />SHARES TOTAL DIVERSIONS CONSUMPTIVE <br />OWNED DITCH SHARES (AC-FT) USE (AC-FT) <br />---------------------------------------------------------- <br />1 RURAL 50 5,382 59 <br />1 LUPTON 83 18,062 109 <br />BOTTOM <br />30 FULTON 7,185 28,030 58 <br />Weld County also owns additional water rights which may be used as <br />augmentation sources. <br />Weld County is presently in an agreement with Central Colorado <br />water Conservancy District for the augmentation of their existing <br />gravel pit operations. They will be seeking the same kind of <br />agreement with CCWCD for this operation in which they will assign <br />some of their water rights to CCWCD for augmentation. <br />if an agreement is not reached with CCWCD Weld County will take the <br />necessary steps to change their water rights in water court for <br />augmentation. Prior to obtaining a change of water right in water <br />court Weld County will enter into a substitute supply plan approved <br />by the State Engineer. <br />