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low in April until irrigation return flows from the CC Ditch water start returning to the system. <br />A storage release from a pond would provide a means to replace the mine depletions during these <br />two months. A possible solution using the Peabody Nucla Mine Ponds No. 1 and 6 will be <br />discussed later in this report. <br />The only surface right that can call during the winter months is the R & H Development Ditch at <br />the bottom of Tuttle Draw that has the decreed use of fish culture. Tuttle draw usually runs <br />enough water to satisfy this right and they have never called in the past. It also does not appear <br />that the pond is currently being used for fish culture purposes. <br />RELEASE OF POND WATER FOR AUGMENTATION PURPOSES <br />The ponds within the mining permit boundary are required to operate at their minimum level so <br />they can capture and store water from a storm event, let the sediment settle out, and release at a <br />later time. They are sized according to the drainage area. Therefore, unless the size is expanded, <br />the ponds do not have any water stored as active capacity that can be released for augmentation <br />purposes. There is water in dead storage, but the water must be pumped into the stream. This is <br />not a preferable solution for storage releases to replace depletions. <br />A reasonable solution for replacing depletions in Tuttle Draw is to use Peabody Nucla Mine <br />Pond No. 1 and No. 6 (Ponds 1 and 6) to release stored water during the months of April and <br />October. The ponds are strategically located outside the permit boundary and on a live stream <br />where water can be physically stored. Pond 1 is located above the Holder Ditch where storage <br />releases will satisfy the potential surface calling rights from the Holder and R &H Development <br />Ditches. Pond 6 is located on a side tributary above the Charlie Rice Ditch, so releases can <br />satisfy that ditch as well as the R & H Development Ditch. <br />Currently, there is no active capacity in Pond 1. If it is to be used for storage releases, an outlet <br />structure must be installed somewhere below the current spilling culvert being used as a <br />spillway. The dam appears to be well built and has about 8 feet of freeboard. If the outlet was <br />lowered 4 -5 feet, and storage operated above the current level, it is estimated that 5 to 10 acre - <br />feet could be stored for augmentation releases. Inflow could be stored during the winter and <br />summer months for release in April and October. <br />Pond 8 should be designated as a storage and augmentation release structure for evaporative <br />depletions from Ponds 7 and 8 in Calamity draw. It is currently sized for only mine runoff, but <br />can be enlarged if necessary. <br />12 <br />