2012-06-05_PERMIT FILE - M2012027 (4)

Home Browse Search

(c) Site Topography: The site topography is generally flat. See Survey Plat. (d) Total affected Acreage: 160 acres, less Chaffee County required 50' setbacks on all sides. (e) Vegetation: The vegetation on the property is meadow grass/alfalfa crop, and upland dry- land grasses and Kochia weed in un- irrigated portions of the property. One pinon- covered rock outcropping is present along the east border of the property. (f) Water: The Survey Plat shows two irrigation ditch features on the Property: (1) a historical irrigation lateral which traverses from north to south in the eastern half of the tract; and (2) the Helena Ditch (B &L Cogan and other owners) which traverses from north to south along the western edge of the property and exiting the southwestern corner of the property onto CDOC land. In addition, the property owner has a livestock well located in the southeast corner of the property. By permission granted by the property owner, Nestle Waters North America (NWNA) was allowed to install an underground water transmission pipeline along the western edge of the tract as well as two groundwater -level monitoring wells on the property located in the northeast and southeast corners of the property. Water Information will be discussed in more detail in section 6.4.7 (Exhibit G). (g) Man-made Structures: There are no man-made structures located on the property, nor within 200' of the property. The inoperative dairy buildings of the CDOC are located west of CR 301 and just beyond the 200' criteria. An occupied residence is located more than 500' north of the property as show in the aerial image presented previously. (h) Soils Information: There are three soil types that have been mapped on the property by NRCS): "Ouray Gravelly Loam ", "Gravelly Alluvial Land ", and "Rockland ". (See Survey Plat). Soil information will be discussed in more detail in Section 6.4.9 (i) Aerial Photos: See above. 6.4.4 EXHIBIT D - Mining Plan In summary, the applicant proposes to systematically remove and sell the excess top 5 vertical feet of topsoil over the course of 20 years. Approximately 140 acres of the property will be excavated in 16 phases of approximately 9 -acre per phase. Each phase after being mined will be replanted for continued haying/grazing in the growing season immediately following the initiation of mining in the next phase. Using this approach, only a small portion of the productive agriculture will be affected at any given time. In the end, the property will be returned to full agricultural production. Operations are anticipated to be year- round, but lulls in activity may exceed 180 days in length due to seasonal demand, weather conditions, and factors beyond the control of the owner. Therefore, the owner declares that the operations may be intermittent and if mining activity on the property ceases for 180 days or more, the owner will provide notice to the board stating that reserves are still in operation, the reasons for nonproduction, a plan for the resumption of production, and the measures taken to comply with reclamation and other necessary activities as 5