2004-08-19_REVISION - M2003037 (2)

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Mesa to the permit area, given that the groundwater gradient is to the northeast. Given the groundwater gradient direction and the location of the ridge in relation to the pit, there aze only 152.9 acres of irrigable area which could infiltrate groundwater under the Haldorson Sand and Gravel Mine. All of these features described above can be seen on Map Exhibit 1 of the Report on Groundwater Hydrology submitted to the Montrose County Commissioners on June 8, 2004. 4. Establishment of Water Levels Due to the heavy opposition which was encountered during the initial permitting process, much research has been conducted in order to fully describe the levels of groundwater which occur in the vicinity of the Haldorson Sand and Gravel Mine on the Spring Creek Mesa. All of the data collected has been compiled below in order to establish the levels which groundwater maybe encountered. 1) A detailed inspection of the Mesa slope to the lower terrace was made by Greg Lewicki, P.E. on December 3, 2003. This was done from the north edge of the permit area to the well south of the southern edge. The slope is approximately 45-65 feet high and there is no evidence of phreatophyte vegetation anywhere on the slopes. Also, there is no salt from springs anywhere on the slopes that may indicate water has ever emanated from the slope itself. All phreatophyte vegetation exists within a few feet of the slope toe, consisting of cottonwoods, willows and water demanding grasses. See the pictures below taken on December 3, 2003. In all cases, the wet vegetation occurs at the bottom of the slope and no precipitated salt is found anywhere on the slope, indicating that there are not any springs higher besides at the bottom of the mesa slope. This is seen in Photo #4 and further shows that the upper terrace of Spring Creek Mesa gravels have never had a very high water level even when irrigation is active. 33