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~~~ Staff Recommendations i' B~ - - SFID AGRA Project E92-7075 Page 4 Soutdown has no juriddiction on Northern's canal and any decision to repair the facility is entirely up to Northern. Southdown should not have to mitigate wetlands based on the actions of others. Southdown is preparing a conceptual prairie emphasis reclamation plan that conforms to the staff recommendation. The plan will be available for staff review prior to the February 10 POSAC meeting. This reclamation alternative would simplify issues in points A.1., 2., 7., 10., and 11. since the scope of the reclamation plan -including total area of disturbance, and total area needed for reclamation -would be reduced by approximately 40%. Also, diversity of wildlife habitats would also be reduced from 9 types to 2 (grassland, with 20 acres of wetlands). Points B.1., 2., and 5. would also be unnecessary as the relocated County Road 47 would be relocated to the East Valley. When Boulder County determines its preference for a reclamation plan, Southdown will complete the necessary details of the plan. Southdown will implement either reclamation plan, depending on County Commissioner approval. Rather than promoting one or the other reclamation plan, we will present both to County decision makers and let the County Commissioners decide which best conforms to the Comprehensive Plan and is most compatible with surrounding areas. STAFF COMMENT 5. The NCWCD Supply Canal should not be lined east of the west boundary of Rabbit Mountain Open Space. Additional wetland field work was conducted this fall by Aquatic and Wetland Consultants (AWC), and will be submitted to county staff after the Army Corps of Engineers has reviewed and approved the final mapping. By comparing the updated wetland delineations with AWC's 1987 work, it is evident that most wetlands in Dowe Flats are in some degree dependent upon and expanding from increased leakage from the St. Vrain Supply Canal (Canal). Supporting evidence has been collected by SHB AGRA, Southdown's engineering consultant. The agricultural lessee agrees that increased leakage is occurring from the Canal. Based upon these conclusions, Southdown informed Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern) of the situation. Northern agreed that leakage is occurring, and had planned to repair some of major leaks in the Dowe Flats area in the Canal during this winter. Northern also revealed that the original clay liner in the Canal was virtually gone in the Dowe Flats section of the Canal, and expressed a willingness to line the Canal in conjunction with the other repair work. On November 10, 1993, representatives of Northern and Southdown met with Terry McKee, US Army Corps of Engineers, in the field to review the situation. Mr. McKee had no conflict with Northern's plan to line the Canal. Southdown will update the wetland mapping in order to document the results of the Canal lining. L^ A G R A Earth & En vironmente/Group