Laserfiche WebLink
Water Riehts and Realacement -Rules 2.04 7(3), 2 05.6(3)(iil, 2.07.6(2)(c), 4.05.15 <br />Water rights and associated mitigation plans are found on pages 56-57 of Section 2.04.7 and on pages <br />94-99 of Section 2.05.6 in Volume 1. Detailed tabulations and discussions of water rights and mitigation <br />plans are documented in Volumes 5 and SA. <br />The Bowie No. 1 Mine could potentially damage water rights in three ways. Water for use within the mine <br />is derived from an alluvial well field in Steven's Gulch. Drawdown of this alluvium could affect flows in <br />Steven's Gulch and in the North Fork of the Gunnison. Over a hundred springs and spring-fed or <br />runoff-fed stockponds cover the permit area, and many are found in the affected area. Subsidence could <br />affect the structural integrity of these ponds or interrupt flow to springs. Lastly, mine inflows from streams <br />along fractures could diminish adjacent surface water flows. <br />During the permit renewal process of 1993, it had been noted that the Bowie No. 1 Mine was consuming <br />approximately 30,000 gpd (as proposed in their original permit application) for use at the mine. In early <br />1986, they consumed 8,700 gpd. Water consumption will decrease dramatically while the mining <br />operations remain temporarily halted. This water supply is drawn from a well field which taps the alluvium <br />of Steven's Gulch. The applicant has obtained an approved augmentation plan through Division 4 Water <br />Court to replace water removed from Steven's Gulch. The plan uses releases from East Beckwith No. 1 <br />Reservoir, located in the Anthracite drainage, to compensate for any injury to other vested water rights or, <br />for this purpose, the North Fork alluvium. The Bowie No. 1 Mine, through an agreement with Pitkin Mesa <br />Pipeline Company, obtains additional water for mine consumption. This water is also drawn from the <br />Steven's Gulch alluvium, but under the pipeline company's water right. <br />BRL proposes to replace the water supply of any legitimate water user if impacted by the mine until such <br />time as repairs are instituted. The application includes specific sources of water owned by Bowie <br />Resources Limited that will be called upon. A subsidence repair plan for springs, ponds, streams, and <br />other resources is included in Subsidence Volume 3. These repair plans will be modified and refined <br />depending on future experience with subsidence. The first five-year mine plan area was located in areas <br />that did not contain many significant water resources. This allowed Bowie Resources Limited to obtain <br />subsidence and repair experience prior to mining sensitive areas. <br />The State Engineer's office was consulted during the course of the initial application review. However, no <br />approval of the mitigation plan could be granted by the SEO since the SEO is not authorized by law to <br />approve augmentation plans. <br />Topsoils -Rules 2.04 9 2.05.3(51, 2.05.4(2)(dl, 4.06 <br />Information pertaining to soil resources and their inventory may be found on pages 67 to 69, Part 2.04 of <br />Volume 1 and in the Soils Appendix of Volume 9. Information pertaining to topsoil handling and <br />redistribution may be found on pages 50 to 53 and 63 to 67, Part 2.05 of Volume 1. <br />Disturbance at the Bowie No. 1 Mine commenced in late 1975 but has presently ceased due to the <br />cessation of mining. Laws pertaining to topsoil salvaging have become more stringent with the enactment <br />of each additional law. The initial development work of the Bowie No. 1 East Mine benches and the <br />storage and loadout aeeas occurred from October 1975 to mid-1976, prior to the enactment of the Colorado <br />Mined Land Reclamation Act of 1976 and its topsoil salvaging requirements. Due to the steep slopes in <br />these areas, no topsoil was salvaged. Since enactment of the 1976 law, topsoil has been salvaged from <br />disturbed areas. <br />15 <br />