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is connate in nature and therefore not applicable to the depletion <br />analysis. <br />Surface Watering and FYauirmrent Washdown: <br />Water for dust suppression measures on the surface and for equipment <br />washdown and facility mainterance is derived frwn the two sources <br />previously discus~seci. During the previous three year period, <br />approximately 30 acre-feet of water per year was used for these purposes. <br />A significant operational change occurred at Orchard Valley during 1993 <br />which will result in less water being required for road watering. The <br />Orchard Valley Fast Mine portals were reactivated thus el~m;n,,ting the <br />need to truck opal from the West Mine over the graveled portion of the <br />Stevens Gulch Road. Consequently the need to regularly water this portion <br />of road is eliminated as well. <br />The following table summarizes average annual water consumption attributable to <br />the operation of the Orchard Valley Mine. The table is based upon historical <br />metered mine water usage over the previous three year period and discussions with <br />the Delta Soil Conservation Service office and Montrose Division of Water <br />Racro~rcpa office to determine the potential evaporative loss from sediment ponds <br />on the property. This estimate of total wnsumption is wnservative and is based <br />upon the assumptions that mine production will continue at a rate of 1.5 million <br />tons per year and potential evaporation will be realized from each sediment pond. <br />. Mine Consumption 28.7 acre-feet per year <br />S~~r~face Consumption 30.9 acre-feet per year <br />Fond Etraooration 4.6 acre-feet oex year <br />Total Consumption 64.2 acre-feet per year <br />Water withdrawals from the Orchard Valley Well No. 3 are augmented by water <br />releases to the North Fork of the Gunnison River from the Fast Beckwith No. 1 <br />Reservoir under the provisions of the augmentation plan specified in District <br />Court, Water Division No. 4, Case No. W-3106. COVCC leases privately held water <br />rights in the Fast Beckwith No. 1 Reservoir and uses these riots for <br />aucpnentation purposes. Under the terms of the augmentation plan, a max;imim of <br />11 acre-feet of water can be withdrawn from Orchard Valley Well No. 3. This <br />available water volume typically is not totally withdrawn (average water <br />withdrawals from Orchard Valley Well No. 3 have been 8.7 acre-feet over the past <br />three years) however, augmentation releases administered by the State Ft~gineer <br />are based upon full utilization of the allotted 11 acre-feet. <br />To the extent that withdrawals fran the Orchard Valley Well No. 3 are augmented <br />by re1Pa~G from the Fast Beckwith No. 1 Reservoir, ODVCC believes these <br />withdrawals should not be subject to accounting under the Wirxiy Gap process. <br />Therefore, the total UCRB depletion attributable to the Orchard Valley Mine is <br />calculated as 53.2 acre-feet per year. <br />• <br />