2009-08-20_HYDROLOGY - M1999120

• Permit No: M1999120
• IBM Index Class Name: HYDROLOGY
• Doc Date: 8/20/2009
• Doc Name: South Platte River Flow
• From: DRMS
• To: Mr. Ross Bachofer
• Permit Index Doc Type: Hydrology Report
• Email Name: ECS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
,'August 20, 2009
?Mr. Ross Bachofer
P.O. Box 652
La Salle, CO 80645
Mr. Bachofer:
STATE OF COLORADO
"V
v
COLORADO
D I V I S I O N OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) has received your letter dated July 11, 2009
(received July 13, 2009), and your letter with enclosures dated August 12, 2009 (received August 13,
2009). The DRMS is continuing to review your concern that South Platte River flow stage may be
affected by local gravel operations. As we have discussed, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to
determine any cause and effect relationship between the local gravel pits and river flow regime;
however, we will review available information to evaluate your concerns. We will specifically focus our
efforts on assessing your question about the possible impact of slurry walls on river flow dynamics.
We will endeavor to provide some conclusions, but I must reiterate that DRMS does not have the
resources to conduct a comprehensive river study that accounts for all possible river basin factors. Our
role is limited to an assessment of cause and effect in a regulatory context, and it may not be possible
for DRMS to conclude with any certainty that local gravel pits are causing the reported flooding at your
property.
We will apprise you of our progress, and please feel free to contact me with any additional thoughts or
information.
Sincerely,
vi erry
(303-866-3567 ext. 8106)
Director, Office of Mined Land Reclamation, Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
CC: Tony Waldron and Eric Scott k-*'
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines