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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Dolores River flows stayed high throughout ~Iay (2000-4000 cfs) <br /> <br />and the water table levels followed this same pattern. The well field <br /> <br />operation stayed at the same, pumping 560 gpm. Brine-fresh water inter- <br /> <br />face levels started to drop and by the end of May they were lower than <br /> <br />ever recorded. The brine pond held 114 AF at this time. <br /> <br />The pumping rate was reduced in June to 425 gpm because of <br /> <br />mechanical problems with pumps and motors. The brine pond seepage <br /> <br />and inflow rate at this point were approximately equal, so the pond <br /> <br />stabilized at approximately 114 AF volume. By mid June, river flows <br /> <br />were down to 1,200 cfs. Water table levels also went down along with <br /> <br />the river to its normal level, but the brine-fresh water interface <br /> <br />continued to drop 10wer than ever before indicating an effect possibly <br /> <br />caused by the pumping. <br /> <br />Mechanical failures continued to plague the pump testing. Through <br /> <br />July, only seven wells were pumped at a rate of 230 gpm. The pond <br /> <br />volume went down to 101 AF and river flows were in the 1-3 cfs range. <br /> <br />Water table levels continued to drop to usually observed levels, but <br /> <br />tile brine-fresh water interface levels continued to drop belm, any <br /> <br />levels previously observed. Refer to Figure 1. <br /> <br />The same patterns continued into August. Figures 2 and 3 show <br /> <br />the water table and interface levels in March and August 1980 of <br /> <br />observation wel1s paralleling the river in the upper east well field. <br /> <br />The brine-fresh water interface lowering is quite evident comparing <br /> <br />the two. A notable point is that the river bottom elevation is 4,929 <br /> <br />in this area, several feet above the interfaces in August. Figure 4 <br /> <br />C~(40~ <br />