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Work on the Scott Gravel pit, to the east of the Interstate 70 Rifle exit, began in early July. Currently, the product is being excavated and used at the Garfield County Airport runway project.
Excavation work on the south side of the Colorado River, just east of the Interstate 70 exit at Rifle, has many people asking what's going on?
The work is the beginning stages of the Scott gravel pit which was approved by the Garfield Board of County Commissioners in March this year. The plan calls for development of roughly 25 acres at the opposite ends of a 93-acre parcel of property running along the south side of the Colorado River and north of the interstate.
The pit application was largely contested by city of Rifle officials, but the BOCC unanimously approved the application regardless. However, assistant city manager Matt Sturgeon says that the city remains opposed to the work even though there is nothing it can do.
“It's something we have to deal with,” Sturgeon said. “But we've already had several people call and ask ‘what is going on?' and comment what a shame it is to have lost those trees and riparian habitat at that location.”
He said that the visual impacts of the gravel pit is pretty much “what we thought we would get if the county approved it.”
“It's unfortunate that it's come to pass,” Sturgeon said. “It will have an impact on the entryway to Rifle for the foreseeable future.”
According to previous reports, the gravel pits are scheduled to operate for less than six years. River's Edge LLC and United Companies of Mesa County are involved with the project.
According to Kyle Alpha, general manager for United Companies, the product that is being taken out of the pit currently is being used at the Garfield County Airport runway improvement project.
The work is the beginning stages of the Scott gravel pit which was approved by the Garfield Board of County Commissioners in March this year. The plan calls for development of roughly 25 acres at the opposite ends of a 93-acre parcel of property running along the south side of the Colorado River and north of the interstate.
The pit application was largely contested by city of Rifle officials, but the BOCC unanimously approved the application regardless. However, assistant city manager Matt Sturgeon says that the city remains opposed to the work even though there is nothing it can do.
“It's something we have to deal with,” Sturgeon said. “But we've already had several people call and ask ‘what is going on?' and comment what a shame it is to have lost those trees and riparian habitat at that location.”
He said that the visual impacts of the gravel pit is pretty much “what we thought we would get if the county approved it.”
“It's unfortunate that it's come to pass,” Sturgeon said. “It will have an impact on the entryway to Rifle for the foreseeable future.”
According to previous reports, the gravel pits are scheduled to operate for less than six years. River's Edge LLC and United Companies of Mesa County are involved with the project.
According to Kyle Alpha, general manager for United Companies, the product that is being taken out of the pit currently is being used at the Garfield County Airport runway improvement project.
