Laserfiche WebLink
OXBOW MINING, LLC <br />NOTICE OF INTENT FOR 2005 <br />ELK CREEK MINE EXPLORATION PROGRAM <br />4.0 DESCRIPTION OF LAND TO BE AFFECTED <br />The area where the proposed exploration activities will occur includes portions of the Hubbard Creek and <br />Beaz Creek drainages located on the north side of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Elevations in the <br />immediate vicinity range from approximately 6,000 feet to 7,600 feet above mean sea level (amsl). The area is <br />semi-arid with annual precipitation of approximately 17 inches. Soils vary in thickness from 0" on steep side <br />slopes and rock outcrops to possibly 2' - 3' in drainage bottoms. Due to the general steepness of the terrain, <br />the drainage bottoms often contain a high percentage of rocky materials deposited by erosional and/or mass <br />wasting processes. Vegetation on the lower elevations and slopes is predominantly a mixture of a mountain <br />shrub community dominated by Gambel's Oak and a juniper woodland. Along the creeks, above <br />approximately 7,000 feet in elevation, some dispersed Douglas firs are found. Aspen communities are also <br />typically found at this elevation or above, on the gentler sloping areas where moisture can accumulate. Beaz <br />Creek is charaaerisric ephemeral drainage with flows occurring in response to spring snowmelc and runoff <br />from major rainfall events. Hubbard Creek is considered a perennial stream, although late season flows <br />consist primarily of diversions of stored water from upland off lease storage reservoirs. <br />5.0 DESCRIPTION OF DRILLING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES <br />Exploration Access -Most of the drill sites will be accessed from or have been located on or near existing <br />ranch/power line roads that extend up Hubbard Creek and Beaz Creek canyons and further onto the upland <br />ridges of these drainage basins. The existing road alignments will not require modification. Required road <br />maintenance will generally include grading the road to provide a smooth operating surface, clean-out and <br />repair of any existing drainage structures and application of temporary drainage control measures (berms, <br />straw bales, silt fences, gravel surfacing, etc.), as necessary. New segments of exploration road will be <br />required to access all six (6) of the proposed exploration sites As shown on the attached map and the table <br />below, these new road segments range from approximately 700' to 1,750' in length for a total estimated <br />combined distance of 6,900'. New road construction will consist of side-cast construction, field fitted as <br />conditions require. <br />All new road construction will be cleared for cultural resources, T & E and sensitive species. All sites will be <br />accessed initially from the existing Bear Creek ranch road, the existing Hubbard Creek road and the existing <br />power line road. The Hubbard Creek and Beaz Creek roads currently have existing culverted crossings in <br />place which will be used for safe passage of equipment. Because there aze no plans to leave roads open for <br />future use, the 6,900' of new road construction will be reclaimed. <br />Drill Site Construction -The six holes proposed in this 2005 exploration program can be s„mmari>ed by <br />the following information: <br />Site # Surface Ownership Plan/ License/Private New Road Hole Depth <br />1 ECM-OS-27 BLM LICENSE 1000' 475' <br />2 ECM-OS-28 BLM LICENSE 1350' 475' <br />3 ECM-OS-39 BLM LICENSE 850' 575' <br />4 ECM-OS-43 BLM PLAN 1750' 375' <br />5 ECM-OS-44 BLM PLAN 700' 575' <br />6 EGM OS-45 BLM PLAN 1250' 525' <br />Total 6900' 3000' <br />