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,,. ..;, <br />e ~Et United States <br />Department of <br />c+ Agricultm•e <br />• 1' ores[ (:rand Mesa, • 2250 1[ighway 511 <br />Service Uncompahgre and Delta, CO 81416 <br />Gunnison 970-874.6600 <br />Nalinnall~orests 970-874-6660 <br />*('rclenommunica [imt <br />Gile Code: 2520 <br />Ruate•rn: zsoor_aooi6soo <br />Subject: Telluride Gravel <br />To: District Ranger -Norwood Ranger District <br />Date: $EP 2 9 1~A1 <br />MAR ~ 12001 <br />~ivf ~~~~90 <br />saD~ o/ Feld <br />Mir>a~~ ~O///oe <br />On Tuesday, September 1(i, 1)98, a site visit was made to determine what work should be completed by the gravel C'eo/per <br />operator under dte terms of the Memorandum of Agreement. David Ballode, who represented Telluride gravel al <br />the meeung, has verbally agreed to perform $6,000 worth of restoration work, in lieu of royalties and land <br />damages. Also participating in the meeting was acting District Ranger Gordon Sloane; Jeff Cameron, Forest <br />Fishery Biologist and acting Resource StaB'; and John Almy, Forest Hydrologist. <br />David Ballode was very cooperative and willing to do any work that the Forest Service felt necessary in order to <br />meet his financial commihnent. The following work was agreed upon that day: <br />I. Presently a dike divides the Bow of water inw two water courses. The dike begins on Telluride gravel property <br />and exleuds up onto National Forest laud. Because an elevation difference currently exists between dte two <br />channels, it was decided to (cave Them intact during restoration. From We point where d[e two channels join back <br />together and for a distance of approximately 150 [eel, the dike will be removed to within a distance of I foot of the <br />existing Floodplain elevation. From that point upstream the dike will be removed down to Floodplain elevation. It <br />was pointed out and understood by all that by removing the dike the channels may undergo adjustment during spring <br />Flood (lows. Even though the outcome of the adjustment is uncertain, returning the chumel to a more natural <br />function is the objective. David had no reservation about renwval of the dike and felt it would not represent any risk <br />to his operation. <br />2. In our negotiation fora 404 permit, dtc Corp was very interested in creating or enhancing wetland values as a <br />part of the resmration. There seems m be an opportunity to accomplish that by regrading of the tloodplain nurdt of <br />the channel and west of the cmdlnence. Groundwater is very scar the surhtce and by excavating a depression two w <br />[lace feet deep into the Boodplain, an emugent wetland ecosystem should become established. <br />3. The terrace which lies north of the stream below the conFluence and extends up along dte west bank of utc Sao <br />Miguel shove the cnutLicnce, will he regraded hack to a l a slope or Bauer. Material excavated Imm dte dike <br />along with material excavated from ;1 ISUIaIL'd pedestal WIII be hauled alld placed alUllg lhC mC UI~Lhe terrace and <br />incorporated into back reconstruction. Telluride gravel has stockpiled large ruck and root wads and these arc <br />available for use in construction of revcunent as needed to protect constructed banks. The existing stumps located <br />on site appeared to be of marginal value, because the uuached bole of the tree are of insufficient length to anchor in <br />place. However, David said they would soon be conducting a clearing operation and would leave ]0 to 12 Ceet of <br />tree bole attached to better serve the purpose. <br />4. Cnuonwood trees located on the terraces would be Icli in place. The exception would be dtose aces that may be <br />a victim of hank reshaping. While dtcir future health is uncertain glvell l'h;IngCS l0 dle W;Iter table, IltCre IS fCISn^ IU <br />hope that they will survive, given the 10 plus years dtey have done su under current conditions. A number of <br />cottouwrnul trees have been washcil out and a[ one particular location a number of them have accnumlatcd. These <br />trees will he set into the channel pegteudicul~u to dte Bow. This action, along widt sums minor filling is hope) to <br />hasten the adjustment of the ch;untel by diverting more of ate Bow towards the east, which the river has hr t:n <br />lending towards. <br />5. No work tut the South Fork was prescribed. The natural recovery process is very encouraging. Gravel bar <br />development and willow establishment has resulted in the channel creating a meander pattern typical of the stable <br />upstream reaches. While high, vertical cut banks still persist; monitoring oCbank erosion pins later that day <br />indicated that since last year very little additional bank retreating has occurred in the last year. Should higher <br />$ ++1', <br />uT~ <br />'~ Caring for the Land and Serving People PnnleGOnPecygetl Paper <br />