2011-03-14_HYDROLOGY - M2009048

• Permit No: M2009048
• IBM Index Class Name: HYDROLOGY
• Doc Date: 3/14/2011
• Doc Name: Substitue water supply plan response
• From: DWR
• To: Mr. Merrill
• Email Name: THM
• Email Name: SSS
• Email Name: AJW
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Mr. William G. Merrill March 10, 2011
Gunnison River Gravel Pit Nos. 1 & 5 Substitute Water Supply Plan Page 4 of 7
meet its replacement obligations under this SWSP. GJPS must submit an executed lease
agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the required replacement water (including water
to account for transit losses) to DWR prior to the exposure of any groundwater at Pit No. 1 or Pit
No. 5.
A water balance showing the timing of depletions and accretions to the Gunnison River in
response to operations at Pit No, 1 and Pit No. 5 is presented in Tables 7 and 8, respectively. As
shown, water generated during dewatering will provide replacement to offset, in part, potential out-
of-priority depletions to the river during the years each pit is operating. GJPS will annually
purchase the additional replacement water required to fully offset potential out-of-priority depletions.
A transit loss of 27 percent for Pit No. 1 and Pit No.5 was used to determine the amount of
replacement water to be purchased. in Blue Mesa Reservoir. For the approval period of this SWSP,
the annual water-purchase obligation at Pit No. 1 is 20.90 acre-feet in 2011 and 24.06 acre-feet in
2012 and the annual water-purchase obligation at Pit No. 5 is 7.96 acre-feet in 2011 and 28.21
acre-feet in 2012. The water-purchase obligation for both pits in 2011 is 28.86 acre-feet and for
2012 the water purchase obligation is 52.27 acre-feet.
Therefore, GJPS is required to obtain a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for a
minimum of 28.86 acre-feet for 2011 prior to exposure of any groundwater at Pit No. 1 or Pit No. 5.
GJPS is required to obtain a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for a minimum of 52.27
acre-feet for 2012 prior to operating Pit Nos. 1 and 5 in 2012.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
I hereby approve this SWSP in accordance with § 37-90-137(11), C.R.S. subject to the
following conditions:
1. This SWSP shall be valid from February 1, 2011 through January 31, 2013 unless
otherwise revoked or modified. If this SWSP will not be made absolute by a water
court action by the plan's expiration date, a renewal request must be submitted to this
office with the statutory fee (currently $257) no later than 90 days prior to the
expiration date.
2. This SWSP is not operational and no ground water can be exposed until GJPS
has provided to the division engineer, water commissioner, and SEO, a copy of
an approved contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for a minimum of
28.86 acre-feet of replacement water from Blue Mesa Reservoir for 2011. Prior to
operating Pit Nos. 1 and 5 in 2012, GJPS is required to provide to the division
engineer, water commissioner, and SEO, a copy of an approved contract with the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation for a minimum of 52.27 acre-feet of replacement water from
Blue Mesa Reservoir.
3. The Applicant must provide the name, address and phone number of the person who
will be responsible for the operation of the SWSP to this office, the Division Engineer,
Bob Hurford, and Water Commissioner, Lynne Bixler (both at PO Box 456, Montrose,
CO, 81402, telephone [phone]), within 20 days of the receipt of this approval,
and same must be provided on the accounting forms submitted to the division
engineer and the water commissioner.
4. An application for a gravel pit well permit for this operation has been submitted and is