2009-12-04_INSPECTION - M2009081

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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M- 2009 -081 INSPECTION DATE 12/1/09 OBSERVATIONS INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO This was a pre - operation inspection performed by the Division as part of. its review of an application for a Construction Materials 110c permit. The operator's agent was contacted about the scheduled inspection. The operator and his agent, named on page one, were present during the inspection. This report primarily addresses observations; most of the issues involved with the application itself are forthcoming in the technical review, under separate cover. The site is on privately -owned land, and is accessible via private road, part of which currently exists and part of it yet to be constructed. The corners of the proposed site were marked by flagged laths. The unconstructed portion of the road will be included in the permitted acreage, and it will remain as a permanent feature on the ranch. The future pit location is on nearly level bottomland, set back by at least 150 feet from the Piedra River. There is little elevational difference between the river and the land where the proposed site is. Most of the site is covered by pasture grasses, with the site's western edge containing healthy cottonwood trees of various ages. There is a small, pre- existing gravel pit in the southern end of the proposed permitted area, less than 10 feet in depth and less than one -half acre in size. There is no evidence of any use of the pit in many years. One item of note is that the floor of the old pit, being at the same or slightly lower elevation of the presently -low river, exhibits signs indicating it intercepts groundwater. The operator stated that the water level in the old pit fluctuates in response to the varying river level, and that the pit does not receive water from overland flow. The proposed gravel pit is to be reclaimed as a pond. Since the alluvium, into which the proposed pond will be excavated, appears to be quite porous and permeable, there may be some challenges to creating a pond that retains water perennially and is deep enough to support fish. The pit may have to be fairly deep (with the floor well below the river level) or the pond slopes sealed (which could prevent inflow as much as it prevents outflow). At this time the application does not address this question. The old pit also exposes a cross section of the soil, showing that it is at least a foot deep and of sandy -silty texture. There is not a strong calcium carbonate presence nor a clayey- caliche layer. Excess topsoil (after exposure of groundwater) will not be spread onsite or placed as a berm, rather the operator will remove all excess and leave the landform as natural as possible. The site contained about a quarter acre of cheatgrass at the south end, which will be seeded to grass during reclamation and monitored. There was also a small area of scattered Canada thistle, occurring within the pasture vegetation, of which the operator is already aware and is actively treating. (This office would appreciate any kind of follow -up information as to how effective the 2009 applications of Milestone herbicide were.) This office has received written responses from Colorado Historical Society, Colorado Division of Water Resources, and US Army Corps of Engineers, all of which have been forwarded to the operator. No negative responses were received. No further items and no problems were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to this inspector at the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 691 County Road 233, Suite A -2, Durango, Colorado 81301. ( Please note: As of 7/1/08 the Durango Field Office moved to the new address, shown above. Please revise your records as necessary I & E Contact Address NAME OPERATOR STREET CITY /STATE /ZIP Mike Clark Tierra Piedra Ranch LLC PO Box 1959 Arboles, CO 81121 cc: Steve Shuey, DRMS ❑ CE ❑ BL ❑ FS ❑ HW ❑ HMWMD (CH) ❑ SE ❑ WQCD (CH) ❑ OTHER Cc: Chandler Marechal, Finney Land Company, PO Box 2471, Durango, CO 81302