Thompson River was captured by ponds during the 2013 flood. The ponds were blown out and the river's course was permanen
Special Review for commercial sand and gravel quarry. Arguments against the Stroh Pit Quarry. Views of Bonser Pit (another Coulson property west of I-25 and west of our neighborhood). The following photos were taken on a calm day in February 2017, so the dust you are seeing is not due to wind but simply from the amount of activity occurring on this day.
The following photos were taken on a windy day in March 2017:
Not clouds…just dust from the Bonser Pit.
Our current viewshed. Green meadow is site of proposed gravel pits. A number of retired people live in this part of TRR. Some of our homes will be less than 400 feet from the pits and we will be subjected to the sights and sounds of gravel mining for 10 hours a day, 5-6 days/week.
These homes are less than 300 feet from the proposed pit. Many young families with children live here.
Proposed area of gravel pit operation is a river migration corridor for wildlife. This photo was taken from our back yard.
Million dollar homes sit above the proposed project area where their view of the pits cannot be screened. Green meadow in foreground is area of proposed pits.
Businesses that depend on tourism will be looking down on the gravel pits.
Residents of apartments will also be impacted. Again, meadow in foreground is within the area proposed for pit excavation.
Looking northwest from the area of proposed gravel pits toward the I-25/Hwy 34 interchange. People on Hwy 34 and I-25 will be able to see the gravel pits (and dust, etc.) Not the most attractive view to introduce visitors to the cities of Loveland and Johnstown.
Example of stream capture by gravel pit ponds just west of I-25 and our neighborhoods. The Big Thompson River was captured by ponds during the 2013 flood. The ponds were blown out and the river’s course was permanently altered. This same event could easily occur at the Stroh Pit quarry and bring the river and flooding closer to our homes. Aerial view of Big Thompson River and Big Thompson Ponds SWA prior to 2013 flood. Garfield (CO) County’s plan for gravel extraction operations makes the following statement: “If a gravel pit is located within the floodplain there is a reasonable chance that it could be flooded during its operational life….In addition, if the pit is located near the floodway of a river there is the possibility that in a flood a gravel pit could alter the natural course of a river. This can have negative impacts on a river ecosystem and unknown impacts on nearby landowners.”
Aerial view of Big Thompson River and “Lost Ponds” after 2013 flood. Note the river’s permanently altered course after being “captured” by the ponds. Two of the ponds were destroyed by this flood event.
