2004-07-16_REVISION - M1987064 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 10, 2003 La Plata County Commissioners Sheryl Ayers Josh Joswick Bob Lieb We aze sisters who own property adjacent to the proposed Dillion project. Two of us are from out of state and flew into Durango this weekend to discuss this project. We have read articles and comments pertaining to the planning process and have spoken to many people in an effort to gather information. We remain opposed to the applicant's planned gravel operation. 1) It is our understanding that the Animas Valley currently has a land use plan in place. This plan was developed yeazs ago with local resident input with the intention of maintaining a rural and residential atmosphere desired in the East Animas Valley. We feel that the planning department and the County Commissioners have a serious obligation to work within the guidelines of this land use plan. Further, we believe that the proposed Dillion project is contrary to the intention of this land use plan. We urge you to oppose this project and stay on course in maintaining a rural atmosphere in the area. 2) Support for the gravel operation by some residents and commissioners appear to be based primarily upon the long-term development of the proposed lake. We are concerned that there appeazs to be no ~uazantee that any such lake will be the end result. What contractual obligations will Dillon, future owners or operators have to wmplete the lake project? The application contains an artist's depiction of beautiful lake scenes, a lake full of blue water surrounded by trees and grass. Will it be a lake full of fresh water with waves lapping against the sloped shores as depicted in the drawings? Or will it be a mining pit of brackish water dependent upon the rise and fall of ground water, much like the pits that can be observed flying into the Four Corners? 3) We are very concerned that the applicant lacks the adequate water resources to develop and maintain a 44 acre lake. Public records of evaporation studies conducted by the USGS and the Bureau of Reclamation made on Vallecito and Navajo lakes show the annual average evaporation losses on these two lakes to be 36 and 48 inches respectively. Using the conservative figure of 36 inches and applying this calculation to a lake the size of the one proposed by Dillion would result in 1584 acre-inches lost annually. The applicant has water rights to one 350 GPM well permit. The well permit is limited to 123 acre-feet output annually during gravel operations, or a total of 1472 acre-inches annually. After completion of gravel operations the well permit is limited to 101.5 acre- feet output annually, or 1218 acre-inches.