2008-11-26_PERMIT FILE - M2008080 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: M2008080
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 11/26/2008
• Doc Name: Exhibit J- Vegetation Information
• From: Journey Ventures, LLC
• To: DRMS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Kersev Gravel Wetland Delineation Report Ecological Resource Consultants. Inc.
second (cfs) from the South Platte River (District Court, Water Division 2007). Water flow is
controlled by a headgate on the south bank of the South Platte River (Section 13, Township 5
North, Range 65 West). The main channel of Plumb Ditch branches in several locations in order
to provide irrigation water to several farms. Ultimately, the main channel of Plumb Ditch flows
back in to the South Platte River approximately 1.3 miles east of the Study Area.
North Branch of Plumb Ditch (1,714 feet / 0.28 acres)
The North Branch of Plumb Ditch flows east along the northern boundary of the Study Area
(Appendix B). The ditch is approximately 7 feet wide and 1,714 feet long within the Study Area
and exhibits a highly channelized, linear shape. The banks of the ditch are steep and sparsely
vegetated, likely due to the high volume of water that is seasonally released through the ditch and
the regular maintenance of the ditch. At the time of the site visit, the ditch contained flowing
water. The North Branch of Plumb Ditch is bordered to the north and south by dirt roads.
Irrigated farmland is found adjacent to both roads. Both the roads and the farmland are separated
by a berm along the ditch.
South Branch of Plumb Ditch (1,718 feet / 0.40 acres)
The South Branch of Plumb Ditch flows east through the northern third of the Study Area,
approximately 500 feet south of the North Branch (Appendix B). The ditch is approximately 10
feet wide and 1,718 feet long within the Study Area, and has steep, moderately vegetated banks
that are highly channelized to carry large amounts of seasonal irrigation water. At the time of the
site visit, the ditch contained flowing water. A dirt road borders the ditch to the north, and
irrigated farmland is located to the south of the ditch. Both the road and the farmland to the north
are separated by a berm along the ditch. Several building structures are located on the north side
of the ditch, near the western property boundary.
The North and South Branches of Plumb Ditch exhibit a distinct linear shape, and are clearly
manmade. Excavated into uplands and lined by steep banks, the ditches sit higher in the
landscape than the adjacent dirt roads and structures and therefore do not drain other wetlands.
The source of hydrology for the ditches is solely irrigation water and regulated by a headgate at
the South Platte River which releases water seasonally. Therefore the ditches do not carry a
permanent (or relatively permanent) flow of water. Diverted irrigation water flowing through the
ditches does eventually drain into the South the South Platte River, a Traditional Navigable Water
(TNW). The ditches do not appear to intercept or carry any other tributary flow. A USGS
topographic map showing Plumb Ditch's course from beginning to end is included in Figure 4.
Wetlands
ERC delineated two specific areas within the Study Area that exhibited wetland characteristics. A
description of the wetland characteristics is provided as follows.
Wetland A (4.79 acres)
Wetland A is classified as a palustrine emergent wetland under the Cowardin et al. 1979
classification system (Appendix A, Photos 1 and 2). The wetland is bordered by the North
Branch of Plumb Ditch to the north, and by the South Branch to the south.
The wetland appears to receive seepage from the adjacent irrigation ditches during periods of
active irrigation. The wetland extends the length of the Study Area (west to east), adjacent to the
northern Study Area boundary, and is bordered by CR 51 on the east side. Wetland A is a
depressional wetland that sits lower on the landscape than the Plumb Ditches. Elevated dirt access
roads (along the ditches) border the wetland to the north and south.
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