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3 <br />Another sittiadon you are probably not aware of is water. We do not have city water in <br />the area of tads proposed gravel pit_ The residences surrounding this pit have wells. <br />Some are shallow wells. Many people rely on their wells for drinking water. Sadly, we <br />asked the county to bring in water experts to study what the effects of digging for gravel <br />would do to the surrounding neighbors wells. We did not hear back from %e county and <br />all of us are jre wfW, and riglt6ully so, of losing our water. Also, I don`t know whether the <br />applicant told you that on the gravel pit site exists a major ditch that brings water from <br />the Yampa. Psver into this valley. This is a major ditch with a state of the art head gate. It <br />was dug years ago to provide water for irrigating crops and watering stock. There are <br />many share holders with water rights on this ditch (the Deep Cut Ditch). The majority <br />of these folks take water once it leaves the proposed gravel pit site. ''[here are concerns <br />that the gravel pit operation will pollute the water. down stream- The earth under the <br />proposed gravel pit is loaded with salt, alkali. Again we asked tote county to study this, <br />however, we! have not heard back. Once the water leaves the ditch, it goes hack into the <br />Yampa River, 'there seeins to be a lot of concern r^egardin g pollution of the Yampa River <br />by these gravel, pit operators. We have several endangered fsh who live in the Yampa <br />River and we must consider their rights as well. See Exhibit A - l:)een_ u Ditch . <br />It seems that this gravel pit has been recommended to the county as a short term operation: <br />and that the operator has guaranteed that he will build homes on that location once the <br />gravel pit is ;graveled out, about three years from now. Years ago a study was conducted <br />on that pmp,,rty and the findings concluded that if it was used for home site development, <br />the main limitations included flooding, shrink swell potential, excessive salts, and low <br />strength. Also pointed out was the high water table. Due to these issues, we do not feel <br />this property will be suitable for home building. This report is attached to the permit <br />application in your office. See Exhibit C Sadly, it will be just another abandoned hole <br />in the ground once the gravel is taken away. The county likes the idea of a gravel pit <br />because they can collect additional tax revenue. <br />Also, the application exhibit S states that the proposed mine encroaches within the 244 <br />foot setback to State Highway 394. See ibit D.- Due to the safety and traffic issues, <br />we see no reason to allow an encroachment. <br />Many of us are concerned with how this operation will be monitored. As Mr, Moberg <br />told me, omtae it is sighed off on by the county, the State is in charge of it Does that mean <br />that you will have a monthly inspection to make sure that gravel pit pollutants are not <br />going down, ditch to the surrounding people with ditch, riights? Does this mean that if this <br />operatiion makes our water wells useless, you will come in to provide water. Do you <br />guarantee that this operation will not disturb the existing aquifers? Will you monitor <br />pollutants going mto the Yampa River from this and other gravel pits?