Laserfiche WebLink
The fine sands might actually be older and forming the core on top of which the more variable <br />alluvial sands were deposited. <br />Sand depths and qualities continue to vary considerably from location to location. This <br />continues to present problems with the mining of the sand. It has been found to be neatly impossible <br />to determine what kind of sand will be encountered at any particulaz location or how extensive the <br />deposit will be. Finding new deposits continues to be accomplished using exploratory holes done <br />with a backhoe. More and more it has been found that there seems to be little if any relationship <br />between the quality and quantity of the sand and any surface indicators in the form of topography, <br />surface soil textures, vegetation composition, indications in ant hills or any other features that might <br />provide hints as to subsurface conditions. <br />HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: No water was encountered in the mining <br />of the sand. In some places, the sand seems to be slightly moist but there is never enough water <br />contained in the sand to produce anything more than a very short lived seep. This moist sand is <br />usually a sand that contains a bit more clay and is overlain by fairly coazse, low clay content sand. It <br />is likely that the moisture in the sand is the result of percolation of water from overlying soils. <br />Drainage from the mining pits continues to be well contained. Razely does any sand ever <br />leave the mining azeas to be deposited on adjacent lands. The only location where this could be a <br />problem is at the mining area on the hillside just east of the floodplain. Even here though little sand <br />ever leaves the confines of the disturbed areas where mining is occurring. <br />RECLAMATION PERMIT STATUS: The original permit was amended to include the new <br />leased land and the new plans. The amendment was approved with flying colors and DMG is quite <br />pleased with the new plan. No work has begun in the new leased areas because local government <br />approval (Arapahoe County) is still needed. Schmidt has a land use planner working on that <br />application and approval. <br />Amazingly, sand is still being found at the site, although it seems to be deposits that aze small <br />and isolated for the most part. Cieazly, the available land where sand can be mined is running out and <br />much of what has not been affected is already known to contain little sand. However, based on what <br />has occurred in the last few months, it is possible that some of those azeas may contain small pockets <br />of mineable sand. Until the local government approval is acquired, sand mining will continue in a <br />pathwork pattern of small excavations. <br />As discussed elsewhere, a good deal of reclamation was performed in the last year. Two of <br />the shallow pits neaz the main road where completely backfilled and graded according to the new <br />specifications. The topography produced in these areas blends so well with the surrounding <br />unaffected land, one needs to look closely to tell that anything ever happened. The indicator is the <br />small, very gradual backfilled and graded highwall at the deepest locations. When one looks closely <br />it can be seen that the small, subtle dip in the slope is not likely to be produced by any natural <br />processes. However, these slopes are so gradual and blend so well they need to be looked for to even <br />see them. <br />These reclaimed areas were seeded but due to the extreme drought occurring so faz in 2006, <br />little if any seed has germinated. Rains in early July may allow some germination later in the <br />summer. Otherwise, what is growing there is generally derived from propagules contained in the soil <br />that was spread. <br />Status report for 2006 (July 15, 2006) Page 4 of 13 <br />