Laserfiche WebLink
~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ • is <br />999 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Departmem of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St.. Room 215 Illt~~ <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 I <br />Phone 13031 866-3567 <br />FAX. 1303) 8}2-8106 <br />DEPARTMENT OF <br />Memorandum RE otUJRRC s <br />To: SusanMcCannon~ ~ <br />From: Randy Price ~„/~ <br />Date: 03/28//995 <br />Subject: Tatum Complaint, Windmill Wel! <br />The Division will require the assistance of the State Engineer's Office in determining the water <br />rights of a landowner as it pertains to a stock watering well. The well is owned by Jim Tatum <br />who purchased the property in 1988. The well is in Las Animas County, SW 1/4, of Section <br />19, T33S, R67W. It is a windmill driven well located in the Picket Wire Valley west of <br />Trinidad. It is 760 feet north of the Purgatory River on a hill side, 130 feet above the river. <br />The well appears as if it has not been used for a while. The windmill fan is bent and several <br />blades are missing; the sucker rod is broken off in the well. There is a stock watering tank next <br />to the windmill with a hole in it.. The pump string pipe has several holes rusted through. To the <br />best of our knowledge the current owners have never pumped the well. Also, to the best of <br />our knowledge when they bought the property the well was nonfunctional. <br />In 1984, the well was inventoried in the regional hydrology map as was identified as being <br />nonfunctional. It was reported by the Golden Eagle mine operator that the previous owner at <br />the time, did not use the well. The closest water suitable for cattle grazing is 620 feet to the <br />south and this source is also a well owned by Jim Tatum. <br />The Division's regulations state in Rule 4.05.15, Water Rights and Replacement; <br />"Any person who conducts surface or underground mining activities shall replace the <br />water supply of any owner of a vested water righ! which is proximately injured as a <br />result of the mining activities in a manner consistent with applicable Sate law." <br />We request that the State Engineer's Office, determine for us in writing, whether Mr. Tatum <br />has a vested water right. Also, what would be the applicable Stale law that is referenced in the <br />Division's regulations? <br />Roy Romer <br />Governor <br />lames 5. Lochhead <br />Eexunve Direcmr <br />Michael 8. Long <br />Dlvnion Diwcio~ <br />Dan Hernandez <br />