2008-07-15_REPORT - M1988044

• Permit No: M1988044
• IBM Index Class Name: REPORT
• Doc Date: 7/15/2008
• Doc Name: Annual Report
• From: SES
• To: DRMS
• Permit Index Doc Type: Annual Reclamation Report
• Email Name: AJW
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

' ANNUAL STATUS REPORT
TO COLORADO STATE BORAD OF LAND COMMISSIONERS
' SAND GRAVEL LEASE: GL-264 (FOURTH AMENDMENT)
LOWRY RANGE
COAL CREEK (QUINCY AVE. SOUTH TO COUNTY LINE)
SCHMIDT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
APPLICABLE YEAR: 2008
DUE DATE: JULY 15, 2008
In accordance with the requirements of Paragraph 6 of the lease and Item I.A.5 of the
Operation Plan, the following information is provided as a status report for the year preceding the
' due date stated above. This information updates the previous annual status report information. Any
updated maps presented in this report contains not only the information for the current year, but
information for prior years as well. If no new map is provided then there was no change in the
' information provided on the previously submitted map. Thus, as conditions change, the maps are
kept up to date on an annual basis without a need to refer back to previous maps. Any maps that were
not updated are so indicated in this report so the most current map can be located for reference as
' needed.
' DATE OF FINAL INSPECTION FOR PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT:
July 3, 2007
' SUMMARY OF THE CURRENT STATUS REPORT YEAR: The 2007=2008 operation year
(July 15, 2006 - July 15, 2007) was a slow year for the operation. Sand deposits continued to become
more and more difficult to find and by the end of the year only two new pockets of sand were left. It
' is remarkable that Dave Miller, the foreman of the pit, has been able to find enough sand to keep the
operation going, but over the the years the quality of the sand deposits have steadily declined
resulting in a need to wash more to get less product. No additional deposits are even suspected as
' being present within the original permit area. Only sand in the amendment area remains.
The problem has been obtaining county approval. This has been going on for the last two
years. As described later, the county planning department has little experience with mining
' operations and most of their rules are directed more toward special use permits for housing and
industrial sites. The need to adapt those rules to this situation has delayed the process. Work has
progressed though on obtaining the approval. Furthermore, the Arapahoe Grasslands Team has
' expressed opposition to the mining, but a resolution was reached. On July 8, 2008, county approval
was given.
Reclamation of older disturbances proceeded this year with a large amount of backfilling,
grading and seeding being done.
The winter was mild with limited snowfall and by the end of the winter the large surplus of
deep soil moisture accumulated in 2006 and 2007 was heavily depleted. Spring brought very little
' rain and by the end of June the site was almost back to the condition it was in 2002 during the severe
drought. Soil moisture was depleted and extensive cracking of the soil due to contraction was evident
' nearly everywhere. Grass growth was very sparse, but more deeply rooted herbaceous species
Status report for 2007 (July 15, 2007) Page 1 of 10