1989-12-01_REVISION - M1988112 (5)

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People's Alternative Energy Services ARNIE AND MAR1A VALDEZ, CO-DIRECTORS Rt. 1 Box 3-A San Luis, Colorado 8]]52 (303-672.3602) Additionally, upon inquiry with the Colorado Climate Center regarding the accuracy of early climate date their response was that generally readins were fairly accurate except in the earliest years. The Center concluded that possihleinaccurate measurements could skew over all averages. However by omitting the use of all available accurate comtemporary weather data from Exhibit K Battle Mountain Gold nos run the risk of skewing estimations in Section Y,.2 Temperatures and Y.. 3 Precipitation as well as data in Tabl?s K. 3-1 , K 4-1 and K. 4-2. 3. Evaporation tables within Exhibit Y, need to be reevaluated. Because Section K-5 evaporation values were based totally on esttmetetl rates. This data is thus highly assumptive and does not take into account several factors; •The evaporation data gather ing was obtained from the Alamosa Airport which section K.5 notes is 28 miles northwest of the site The exhibit does not expand on the fact that the 28 miles was calculated in air miles. Generally it is our feeling that this section fails to note al Ithe /imitations of der'sgathered from one site which is then applied as an average in a region that is 100 miles long and 75 miles wide. There are great topographic variations between Alamosa weather station and the study site. The evaporation data from Alamosa was gathered near the center of the San Luis Valley at an elevation of 7,536 fit. The data gathering area lays in physographic subdivision known as the Alamosa Basin which is more representative of a steppe or tree-less plain. rn contrast the Rito Sets site is at &,600 feet in elevation end is located in foothill area which flanks a large mountain range. These two sites experience vast variations in daily weather events that can alter evaporation rates from both free water and soil surfaces. •The Rito Seco site exeriences significant site specific micro-clirnate influences which can and do alter evaporation rates. Some phenomena which can change evaporation rates are; duration and intensity of solar radiation, cloud cover ,wind currents, vegitatfon crn~e, humidity, temperature, and other site specific events. In conclusion, it is our feeling that there are too many assumed ~~alues and estim 3tions utili=ed by Rattle Mountain Cjold in it's data gathering, especially regarding weather at the Ritn Seto. The fact of the matter is that data at San Luis lacis the long term records necessary .o theorize about ~.veather, especially when it invol~. es ens. ironmental invasive activities.