Raton, N.M., U.S.A. (February 12, 2009) – The state of New Mexico’s Abandoned Mine Land Program recently announced that they awarded a state contract to Water and Earth Technologies Inc. of Fort Collins, Colo., to identify methods to protect the public and environment from hazards posed by abandoned coal mines at Vermejo Park Ranch. The company will be paid $400,000 over three years.
"Water and Earth Technologies began using Carlson Natural Regrade in 2006," says Nicholas Bugosh, developer of the software and the Natural Regrade sales director for Carlson Software. "They have used it successfully for major projects, bringing them in below budget and in much less time than was projected." These projects include reclamation of 31 acres of land at the GCC of Americas Cement Plant in Tijeras, N.M., and an area totaling more than 950 acres at Chevron Mining’s McKinley Mine in Gallup, N.M.
According to The Raton Range, "State officials said the project is to protect and enhance the natural environment at abandoned mine sites, while reducing erosion and sedimentation in Dillon Canyon Creek." To achieve long-term landform stability against erosion, Water and Earth Technologies, an environmental consulting and water resources engineering firm, will be using Carlson Natural Regrade, a software technology that employs fluvial geomorphic approaches – getting a result much like nature would over thousands of years – for drainage, earthwork, and stream restoration design.
Owned by media magnate Ted Turner, the private Vermejo Park Ranch encompasses nearly 900 square miles and is located primarily in New Mexico’s western Colfax County, with a portion extending north into Colorado. Portions of the ranch were mined in the early 1900s.
The Raton Range also noted, "Under the agreement with the Mining and Minerals Division, Water and Earth Technologies will assess abandoned mine sites on Vermejo Park Ranch, develop alternatives for cleanup, safeguard the reclamation of the sites, develop project plans and specifications, and assist the Mining and Minerals Division in administration of construction contracts for the cleanup."
The state of New Mexico is planning on field work at Vermejo Park Ranch to begin in late spring and continue through the summer of 2009. For more information about Carlson Natural Regrade, call or email Nicholas Bugosh at 970-631-4190 or nbugosh@carlsonsw.com or visit www.carlsonsw.com/naturalregrade.
About Carlson Software
Founded in 1983, Carlson Software develops software solutions to bring the land development professional from concept to completion. The 25-year-old company is well known for its comprehensive civil, surveying, machine control and positioning, plus mining software solutions. Its free technical support and dedication to customer service is unique in the industry. Carlson Software is headquartered in Maysville, Ky., with branch offices in Boston, Atlanta, Front Royal, Va., and Queensland, Australia.