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"'\ United States Soil <br />:I~~~'~ <br />~g•,/1 Department of ConservaGOn <br />:..ir Agriculture Service <br />Jim Stover <br />Snowmass Coal Company <br />743 Horizon Ct. Suite 205 <br />Grand Junction, CO 81506 <br />Dear Mr. Stover: <br />401 23rd Street, Suite 106 <br />Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 <br />August 8, 1989 <br />It is my understanding that Snowmass Coal is currently required to reclaim <br />a portion of a paved haul road on the Crystal River Ranch property. The <br />portion at issue is the part of the road which crosses the part of the ranch <br />which is classified prime farm land. It is also my understanding that the <br />ranch operator does not want the haul road reclaimed. <br />I cannot comment on Snowmass Coal's legal or regulatory obligations to <br />perform the reclamation. I can however cortcnent on the probable consequences <br />of performing the reclamation. <br />The amount of prime farmland, two acres, which currently is not in production <br />• because of the existence of the road is insignificant when compared with the <br />total acreage of the ranch. The paved road probably takes the place of a <br />more typical dirt road through the field so its impact on prime farmland <br />production is already partially mitigated. The existence of the paved road <br />in conjunction with the paved storage area for hay may actually increase the <br />productivity of the ranch. <br />On a field visit to the property, it appears that large amounts of earth <br />will need to be moved to level or create prime farm land and this may <br />cause additional erosion and resulting sediment. It can also cause <br />downstream pollution by sedimentation. This will also erode the leveled <br />land and the barren areas, when an attempt is made to rebuild the small <br />acreage of prime farm land. <br />The maximum economic loss attributable to taking two acres out of <br />production may be calculated by determining the value of the production <br />expected from the acreage. This would be two tons of hay per acre <br />per cutting which equates to, 2 tons X 2 acres X 2 cuttings X $75.00 <br />per ton, $600.00 per year. <br />If I can be of further assistance, don't hesitate to contact the <br />Soil Conservation Service office. <br />Sincerely, <br />• Denn ~ on~ District Conservationist <br />•New 7-11-91 <br />O The Soil Conservation Sernce <br />U ~s an agency of tna 4- 9 6 d <br />Depertmanl of Agriculture <br />