GENERAL46837 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE Each year, during the late fall and winter months, a temporary access road will be constructed across the Animas River at the north end of the exiting stockpile azea to the east river bank. Construction of this access road will involve the placement of culvert pipes in the river channel to contain the flow and would include excavating channel bed gravel material to provide a 40 foot wide roadway between the Sandco Gravel Pit and the existing stockpile azea. All haul traffic would be along this access road and travel through running water would not occur. The river roadway crossing and the culverts will be removed each year prior to the spring runoff and the material therein will be redistributed over the channel bed. A water use well permit has been acquired for this proposed area. Such water can be used under that permit for dust suppression during the excavation and on the road or storage areas during the loading and hauling activities. Such water along with the Applicant's water rights from the Animas Valley Ditch will also be used for irrigation purposes to enhance the landscaping and revegetation of the reclamation of the slopes into the lake azea. At the completion of the gravel pit, all haul roads will be removed and reclaimed with topsoil. Excavation will begin at the south end of the proposed lake with removal of topsoil to be stockpiled for reuse during reclamation. This will create a berm along the western edge of the lake area. Such berm will be sloped and seeded so as to provide not only a sound bamer for any neighbors to the west across the Animas River, but also as a site barrier to the excavation process itself. At the conclusion of the project, the berm area will be removed and utilized for reclamation along the slopes of the lake. Topsoil material in excess of that required for reclamation will be placed in low azea of pastureland owned by the Applicant and adjacent to the lake azea and seeded with native grass. Excavation would begin at the west lake boundary and extend to the east lake boundary. Approximately 2 acres per year will be stripped to expose the sand and gravel deposit. Upon reaching the east lake boundary, removal of the sand and gravel to about one foot above the groundwater table would progress back to the west lake boundary. Excavated material would be hauled to stockpile at the existing processing area. The subsequent excavation would again start at the west lake boundaryand material removed to the final grade. Wet material removed will be placed on the previously excavated surface to allow drainage of water before loading and transporting to the stockpile azea. The backslopes of the lake boundaries will be made to a slope not steeper than 1 foot vertical to 3 feet horizontal. Excavated slopes that aze temporary, i.e., between the yearly excavations within the lake will be made to approximately one foot vertical to 1.5 feet horizontal. This procedure will be followed on a yearly basis until excavation is completed to the north lake boundary. RECLAMATION As the vazious excavated backslopes are completed, that area above the exposed groundwater table will be covered with top soil approximately one foot deep and seeded with a native grass mixture. In addition, appropriate trees, plants and shrubs will be planted to enhance the aesthetics. ROAD CAPABILITIES. Because of the nature of the land use change, road capacities are not a factor on the short term. On the long term, access will be off of County Road 250 along the northern portion of Applicant's property down to the lake. However, the impact to the County Road will be