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    Eminent Domain (Condemnation) Appraisals for Animas-La Plata Dam Construction, SW Colorado

    In 2001, EIS conducted market value appraisals of an operating sand and gravel quarry and adjacent property in southwest Colorado for eminent domain acquisition by the US Bureau of Reclamation. These properties became the major source of aggregates used by the Bureau’s contractors in the construction the Animas-La Plata Dam.

    Mr. Ellis conducted the appraisals of the surface real estate as a licensed Certified General Appraiser and the appraisals of the minerals estates as a Certified Minerals Appraiser. The value conclusions for each property were based on Highest and Best Use principles for the relationship of surface and minerals. The potential residential housing reversionary value of the quarry property after completion of resource extraction was significant, due to the property’s scenic and convenient location adjacent to the major regional city.

    He developed the appraisals in accordance with the USA’s Uniform Appraisals Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions (the Yellow Book), under a constrained time schedule. Influence of the large government project on values had to be excluded from the market value determinations.

    These were the first eminent domain appraisals that Mr. Ellis had developed. Despite that, the US Bureau of Reclamation’s senior review appraiser approved them without suggesting any edits or modifications, and personally complemented Mr. Ellis on the quality of his work. Subsequently when one of the property owners challenged the payment received, the US Department of Justice hired Mr. Ellis as its minerals appraiser expert for the case.