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iii iiiiiiiiiiiuii~ 999 Dennis 8c Dolores Swanson 88 West Kathy Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80926 Apri127, 2001 Dave Akers Section Chief Water Quality Protection Seaton Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 4300 Cherty Creek Dr., South Denver, CO 80246-1530 Dear Mr. Akers: We are writing this letter to express our concern regardmg a proposed expansion of the Red Canyon Quarry South of Colorado Springs owned by the Red Carryon Limited Liability Company. We own 106 acres downsUeam (South) of the quarry. Red Creek which runs through the quarry also runs through our property. In 1996 when we first purchased our property, Red Creek was a nice gentle flowing stream that ran most of that year. In 1997 the t(uarry expanded and the flow in the creek changod Instead of a more consistem flow it became very intermittent and violent during periods of heavy reins. It also ran with a very heavy red sedimeat for several days after a heavy rain. The road between our property and our neighbors to the North has ban washed out and rebuilt three times since 1997. The last major trek flow in 1999 was the most violent, ripping the creek bed to a width at least five times what it had been Please sa piaures #7 - 10 taken Apri125, 2001 showing the current state of the creek bed. This flow also 511ed the entrance to our pond with at least three plus feet of sediment and left at least a foot of sediment covering most of the area surrounding the pond Then the creek flow stopped. During all of the year 2000, not a drop of water flowed in the creek So far this year no water has ban in the creek either. Our pond which historically always contained water is now dry. Please refer to picwres #1 and #2 taken during our wadding day on 08/21/98 where the pond was full and beautiful and to pictures #3 and #4 taken this month, Apri125, 2001 showing the pond dry and barren as well as the large amount of sediment blocling the entrance to the pond This pond was a source of pleasure to us as well as the animals that used it as their primary source for water. We are aware that the quarry is rotptesting an atnendmeN to their existing pern»t to increase the size of the quarry being mirxd to 360 acres. We are very concerned about further damage being done to the sunrounding area should this expansion be allowed We would also like for Red Creek to be restored to its original yeaz-round flowing patbem. By letting Red Creek flow year round, the possibihry of flash floods would be greatly eNminated Doesn't Colorado water laws state that even though a person rosy owv water rights, the water still has to be passed on downstream within a set number of hours? We have just obtained a Dopy of a hydrologist report which indicates that Red Creek is going to be severely impacted by this expansion should it be approved This report also indicates that there Nave ban several violations recorded against the [nine operators in the past two decades. The faa that they will be building several sediment ponds with the expansion that have the potrntial of Inealdng during a heavy rainfall is of a major concern for us. The report also states that water will flow away from the creek instead of into the creek after the expansion is complete. We have included a Dopy of the report for your review. Your help in preserving om beautiful and healthy environmem is greatly appreciated. When tNe environment has been damaged to such a degree, we cannot remain silem...... WE MUST SPEAK LIP. Sincerely,