2009-02-26_HYDROLOGY - M2008080 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES - DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES February 26, 2009 Chris Gathman Weld County Planning Department 918 101" Street Greeley, CO 80631 Re: Journey Ventures, 1-LC-Special Use Permit for Journey Ventures Pit DRMS M2008-080 Sec. 7, TSN, R64W, 6th P.M. Water Division 1, Water District 3 Dear Mr. Gathman: Bill Ritter, Jr. Govemor Harris D. Sherman Executive Director Dick Wolfe, P,E. Director Although we have not received a formal request by the county to review the proposal for a mineral resource development facility including open pit gravel mining and materials processing, in an effort to assist the county and at the request of Mr. J.C. York from J. T. Consulting, Inc., the State Engineer's Office offers the following comments. Since this proposal does not qualify as a "subdivision" as defined in §30-28-101(10)(a), C.R.S., pursuant to the State Engineer's March 4, 2005 memorandum to county planning directors, this office will only perform a cursory review of the referral information and provide comments. The comments will not address the adequacy of the water supply plan for this development or the ability of the water supply plan to satisfy any County regulations or requirements. Journey Ventures, LLC anticipates mining and reclamation of the Journey Ventures Pit in 11 Phases. The overall time required to complete the mining and reclamation at this site is estimated to be 25 years. For the first two Phases Journey Ventures, LLC will mine to an elevation of 4,594 feet with the mining plan encompassing a total of 12.61 acres of the mining limits and no ground water will be exposed or used in the initial Phases 1 and 2. It is expected that Phases 1 and 2 will be completed over two years period. For the subsequent Phases, 3-11, the mining operation will be conducted as a dry pit by dewatering the active area with dewatering trenches. A slurry wall is anticipated to be installed prior to phase 3 or at some point between Phase 3 and 11. Exposed ground water taken from the pit will also be possibly used for material washing and dust control. Pursuant to §37-90- 137(11), C.R.S., exposed ground water due to gravel mining operations (which, according to the information for the DRMS file, is proposed to occur during Phases 3-11 of the mining operation) is considered to be a well and a well permit must be obtained rior to the commencement of any mining activity which would result in the exposure andlor use of ground water. Since this proposed gravel pit "well" appropriates water tributary to the over-appropriated South Platte River basin, an approved temporary substitute water supply plan (SWSP) or a Division 1 Water Court approved plan for augmentation that includes depletions associated with all uses. of ground water, including evaporation, would be required before a well permit could be issued. Office of the State Engineer 1313 Sherman Street, Suite 818 • Denver, CO 80203 • Phone: 303-866-3581 • Fax: 303466-3589 www.waterstate.co.us