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~ ~~ OB/20/Dl 12:54 FAE 303 297 9007 NAT6R YGT. CONSULTANTS a ~ 002 Wl'~.TER Mr. Louis F. Swift 610] South County Road 7 Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 oso q~ MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS 7815 LAWRENCE 57REET, SU1TE SOD DENVER, COLORADO 60202, USA TELEPHONE: (303) 297 9005 TELEFA%:(303) 297 9007 lone 20, 2001 + Dear Louis: Timnath ConneO plt protect, Lorimer County, Colorado Following our meeting on June 15, 2001, I have provide a brief description of what ]believe is occurring with the fish pond water levels at your farm. On May 31, 2001, we surveyed the water levels in the ponds immediately south of County Road 36 and tht water levels in the siltation ponds on the north side of the County Road. The water level in the siltation ponds was approximately 5 ft higher than in tbe Willows Poad and approximately 7 ft higher then io the other ponds irnmcdiatcly south of the County Road. While the water level in the Willows Pond appeared to be normal, the water levels within the adjacent ponds appeared to be approximately 2 to 3 ft below their normal water level. From the Contingrncy Plan agreement between Connell Resources Inc, and yourself, dated March 14, 2000 (as submitted to the Mined Land Reclamation Board), it was agreed that during Phase 1 of the mining operations, if the wattr level within Piezumeter Pti dropped more than 1 ft during excavation, water would be diverted from the temporary dewatering silt pond to the drainage culvert under Comity Road 36. I have attached plots of the water levels obtained from Connell for piezomtters P4, P5, Pfi, and P7, which ate water-level recorders immediately adjacent to your property. The plot of water levels within P6 indicate that water levels fell in excess of 1 ft, and Cornell has implemented the contingency plan of diverting water directly through Ute culvert imdemeath County Road 36. Tht plots of the piezometric levels for pie2ometers P5, P6, and P7 all indicate significant drops m the water table on the north side of yota ponds since they installation in October 1999. The water levels from piezometer P4, located adjacent to IJoxelder Ditch, have fluctuated approximately 3 ft, but the piezometer is not indicating along-term decline in water level. While flte water level in the Willows Pond is now above its normml operating level, the levels m the adjacrnt ponds to the East continue to remain below their normal operating levels and appear to be declining evrn further. It is obvious that with the planned groundwater interception from the mining operations, the ponds are no longs being recharged from the aquifer. It is also obvious that groundwater is not flowing from the Willows Pand to the adjacent ponds or from the alluvial groundwater: aquifer to the ponds. It is possible that either the Willows Pond has silted up, restricting lateral and vertical outflow, or the topsoil layer betwern the ponds is not permeable enough to allow sufficient interflow from the Willows Pond to compensate for evaporation.