2005-07-13_REVISION - M2000016 (21)

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• There are two riparian corridors that pass through the property. They include the South Platte River and portions of the existing irrigation ditches. All efforts have been made to preserve and enhance these resources. • This site is located south west of the City of Fort Lupton. Key opportunities include potential parks, trail links, preservation of the existing homestead for a museum, and education opportunities regarding mining, agriculture, oil and gas facilities, wetlands and the river corridor. • There is an opportunity to enhance wildlife habitat through the creation of a combination of open water ponds, silt basin wetlands, river corridor restoration and shoreline plantings. • Portions of the reclaimed property have been designated as lined water storage ponds. • This site is located near the current alignment of the front range trail. This site can be linked to the trial or provide an alternative off-street location for the trail. In addition, shorter, low impact trail loops maybe constructed within the property to provide additional opportunities for trail users. • There are several opportunities to enhance and stabilize eroded river banks and restore the adjacent vegetation as part of the wetland mitigation plan for the project. • Silts generated by the mining process can be utilized to create diverse wetlands and add diversity to the habitat along this portion of the river corridor. • There are existing and planned oil and gas facilities on the site. There may be an opportunity to work with the oil and gas companies to enhance the appearance of the facilities. • There is limited overburden on this site. However, excess material can be used as much as possible to vary the slope and configuration of the open water ponds to create more irregular shorelines Post-Mining Land Use Portions of the Site are within the 100-year floodplain of the Platte River. Weld County Department of Planning Services considers land located in the 100-year floodplain to be suitable for agriculture, recreation, and wildlife uses. The post-mining land use, as proposed in this Reclamation Plan, consists of water storage and open water for recreational purposes. Phase 1 Cell 2, Phase 2 Cells 1 and 2, Phase 3 Cell I, and Phase 5 Cell 2 will be used for silt storage and reclaimed as wetlands. Phase 1 Cell 1, Phase 4 Cell 1, and the Plant Site area will be reclaimed as water storage facilities. All remaining cells will be reclaimed as unsealed groundwater ponds. All other disturbed areas will be vegetated with a native seed mix, as recommended by the Soil Conservation Service (see Upland Areas Seed Mix on page 19). These uses are compatible with the surrounding land uses and with the Weld County planning goals. For both the lined and unlined ponds, Lafarge will concurrently reclaim pit walls where mining has been completed according to the phases outlined in the Mine Plan. The silt storage ponds will be reclaimed as soon as they are filled, according to the phases outlined in the Mine Plan. Reclamation, including regrading and seeding, will be completed in two F[. Lup[on Pit DMG 1 !2 Permit Page 20 of 86