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3. The river has made fast, ~ost overnight movements ne•,tr the imas Aggregates pit, and <br />hear the Hermosa Meado~5 Campsround which havz thrcat~ed homzs and certainly <br />removed property. <br />4. All along the river from Trimble Lanz brid~,e to Bakers Bridge, the extent and cut depth <br />of the braided river bottom have widened and deepened considerably. <br />5. Former riparian areas that existed on each side of the primary river channel, that served <br />only as spring overflows and at other times were well vegetated and protected sidebank <br />areas, are now bare gravel bars, with the potential to change quickly. <br />6. The operator of Animas Valley Sand and Gravel has placed a low water crossing in the <br />only channel of the Animas River, forming a complete obstruction to water bone traffic for <br />8-10 months each year, requiring trespass on private land to go around. Although [he Carps <br />has inexplicably permitted this activity, it is in direct contravention of FEMA regulations <br />concerning modifications to the Floodway channel. <br />7. Modifications to the Floodway and designated Floodplain, as originally defined by the <br />Corps of Engineers, which authority was later passed [o FE~•tA, happen continually with no <br />oversight or regulation whatsoever. <br />8. The river's ability to sustain any kind of viable fishery has been seriously compromised <br />over the stretch under review due to channelization, discharge and disturbance of bottom <br />silts, and elimination of habitat. <br />9. Wetland areas have been modified and continue to be modified through a lowering of <br />average ground water level and mechanical removal of wetlands through high wager activity. <br />10. The net higher velocities in the confined channel probably contribute to an even higher <br />rate of downward cutting and sideward meandering. <br />11. Due to the higher velocities and faster erosion, other property owners have been forced <br />to go to great expense to install riverbank protection. <br />The character of the Animas River has changed substantially in 20 years as a result of gravel <br />extraction operations. The review of these chan,es has been cursory and insubstantial. In a <br />conversation with a Federal Emergency iVlanagement Agency official, a statement was made <br />by him "La Plata County is the only area I know where gravel pit operators move with <br />impunity in the River:' (Fred Metzler, FEivtA,Denver) Some correction is in order. <br />The sand and gravel extractors do'not receive even a small traction of the scrutiny in review <br />that private landowners and developers do for impacts to wetlands and to the river banks. <br />A specific example is the extensive permitting the Dalton Ranch and Golf Club passed <br />through for wetlands impacts and modifications to the river channel for both prot~:ction and <br />modification of the tloodway (through both the Corps and FEi\tA). During the sane period <br />the sand and gravel operators have effected changes in the river that are many many times <br />