2008-03-05_REVISION - M1997054 (18)

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General Guidelines For Substitute Water Supply Plans For Sand and Gravel Pits Submitted To The State Engineer Pursuant To SB 89-120 & SB 93-260 In 1989, the Colorado Legislature passed Senate Bill 120 that affects gravel pits in operation after September 31, 1980. §37-90-137(11)(a)(11), C.R.S., requires any gravel pit that exposed ground water to the atmosphere after December 31, 1980 to replace all out-of-priority depletions of ground water. In 1993, the Colorado Legislature passed Senate Bill 260 that basically changed the fees associated for review of the substitute water supply plans. To maintain consistency and to streamline the review process, the Office of the State Engineer is requesting substitute water supply plan applications for sand and gravel pits submitted pursuant to Senate Bill 89-120 and Senate Bill 93-260 follow the format presented below, where applicable. These general evaluation guidelines are provided to assist the applicant preparing the substitute water supply plan request and are not to be construed as formal policy making procedures. Even though most of these guidelines are engineering related issues, there are some that contain policy issues by the State Engineer as well as statutory requirements. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1. A narrative description shall be submitted summarizing the water resource aspects of the proposed or existing operation including water usage and consumption and a proposed plan for replacing out-of-priority depletions. 2. Two maps should be provided showing the water resource aspects of the operation, including the existing or proposed lake(s), streams, wells, ditches, dewatering pumps and trenches, and points of discharge for the washing and dewatering operations. One of the maps should be a USGS 7-1/2' quadrangle. The second map can be hand drawn showing current, proposed and ultimate lake surface area. The scale, section, township, range, and principal meridian should be clearly identified on each map. Additionally, aerial photographs (if applicable) need to be provided delineating the lake surface area prior to 1981 and after. 3. The statutory fee for a new substitute water supply plan request is $1,343.00 regardless of the number of acres exposed and is applicable for the first two years. Plans and fees are necessary only if the gravel pit operation exposes groundwater in an over-appropriated stream system. The exception to the fee for the substitute water supply plan in an over-appropriated stream system is a submittal using a pre- 1989 written agreement with a water users' association [§37-90-137(11)(a)(1), C.R.S.] (e.g., Water Users Association of Water District No. 6 and St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District) or a plan of inclusion in a recognized District (e.g., Middle Park Water Conservancy District, West Divide Water Conservancy District, Basalt Water Conservancy District, and the Bureau of Reclamation project water in Green Mountain Reservoir and Ruedi Reservoir) by this office for making sufficient