2008-01-04_HYDROLOGY - M1984108 - Laserfiche WebLink

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to industrial use since they are part of the Uncompaghre Ditch, coming from the Gunnison water tunnel. We decided that the best way to resolve the situation was to close the pit, and permit a wetland bank with the Corps of Engineers. As can be seen by the attached correspondence, we worked with Ken Jacobsen and Nick Mezei in 2004 and 2005 to get the wetland bank approved. Their site visit with us in August of 2004 reinforced their belief that this site was an excellent choice for a wetland bank and one was needed in this area, however, the knapweed on site was thick enough that it would likely take multiple sprayings before it was eliminated. We discussed the situation with Russ Means in September of 2004 and he stated we may not need to get a revision to the permit since any additional extraction would be incidental to the creation of the wetland bank. It was calculated by us that approximately 60,000 cy of gravel would need to be removed to attain the land levels required for the wetland bank. Most of this would need to be removed from an area outside the 110 permit boundary but still on the Western Gravel property. No mining of any kind has occurred since 2004, when the issue with the water rights was identified. The Prospectus for the Olathe Wetland Bank was submitted to the Corps of Engineers in March of 2005. See attached copy. The wetland bank could not be approved over the next 2 years since the spraying of the knapweed that Western Gravel performed in 2004 and 2005 was not sufficient. It is Western's intent to do the following in 2008: 1) eliminate the knapweed, which will likely require additional spraying in the spring and summer of 2008 2) move the old fill stockpile between the south pond and the County Road into the lake. Salvage any topsoil in the pile and place it north of the south lake. 3) approve the wetland bank with the COE 4) provide the revised and approved plans to the DRMS for the site 5) conduct the work and close the pit and create many acres of wetlands in the process. We understand that the issue of the water rights in the south pond, which is approximately 2.66 acres of water surface, must be resolved. I have attached the correspondence showing that we have made a very significant effort over the past few years to do this, however, the combination of the knapweed and the fact that the Grand Junction office of the COE has been very difficult to communicate with has left us unable to confirm the wetland bank and consequently revise the permit for the final reclamation. The current contact for this operation is: Shauna Hovey Phone # (970) 209-9859 Tax ID Number: Western Gravel, Inc.