2004-11-09_REVISION - M2000016 (11)

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CHIKUMA PROPERTY The Chikuma property is a large upland area used primarily for production of vegetable crops. Most of the property consists of irrigated fields used for growing a variety of garden vegetables. Because these crops are irrigated, there is an extensive water distribution network on the site. Small sections of the South Platte River cross the southeast and northeast corners of the property. The tributary to Big Dry Creek that crosses the Norden property, extends northward and enters the Chikuma property in the central part of the south side of the site. If follows its natural channel for approximately 0.25 miles and then enters an excavated ditch that carries the water north to the Myrna property where it empties into Big Dry Creek. Big Dry Creek crosses the westem part of the Chikuma property. There is also an irrigation ditch in the western part of the property that enters the property from the south and flows northward. The source of water in this ditch comes from a diversion point on the South Platte River approximately four miles south of Wattenberg (located at the southern end of the Ft. Lupton properties). After leaving the Chikuma property, the ditch continues northward for approximately 2.5 miles and empties into Little Dry Creek. The water in Little Dry Creek is captured in a series of irrigation ditches, and the water that is not used ultimately returns to the South Platte River. In addition to the croplands, there are cottonwood forests and woodlands on the portions of the flood plain next to the South Platte River. Also, cottonwoods and willows area scattered along Big Dry Creek and the tributary to Big Dry Creek. The Chikuma property has more sources of flowing water than any of the other Ft. Lupton properties. Wetland areas on the Chikuma property occur in association with this network of natural drainages and irrigation ditches (Maps C-1 and C-2). Most of the proposed mining cells for this site are located in the upland areas, and the drainages have been excluded from the proposed mining areas, however some of the proposed mining sites are located in wetland areas. In the eastern part of the site, wetlands occur in association with the South Platte River (northeast corner and in the southeast corner). There are also, two wetland areas associated with small drainages on the upland portion of the flood plain. The northern drainage has wetland vegetation that is connected with the wetlands along the South Platte River. This wetland is jurisdictional. The wetland in the southeast part is isolated and does not extend to the wetlands along the river and is non-jurisdictional. In addition to the mapped wetland areas, there are several places where coyote willows occur along the ephemeral drainages. These areas were judged to be non-wetlands because the species associated with the willows are species that are not characteristic of wetland areas. The willows occur in these areas because they are more deeply rooted and can satisfy their water requirements by tapping into the capillary fringe of the water table, even though the soil layers close to the surface are dry. There are also wetlands associated with the tributary to Big Dry Creek in the south central part of the area. This drainage is an extension of the ditch that begins on the Rittenhouse property; however the section on this part of the Chikuma property flows through a natural channel. Because of their connection with the South Platte River, wetlands along this channel are jurisdicfional. Northwest of the point where the drainage enters the Chikuma property, the water empties into a ditch that carries the water north for approximately 0.25 miles where the ditch empties into Big Dry Creek, which ultimately empties into the South Platte River north and east of the project area. Wetlands along these channels are jurisdictional because of these connections. -26-