WSP02988

• File Number: 8200.760
• Description: Yampa River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 1/1/1976
• Author: Stearns-Roger
• Title: Environmental Study - Hayden and Craig Colorado - Phase D - Annual Report - 1976
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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INTRODUCTION

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This report presents the results of the 1976 Phase D Environmental Surveillance Program for
Hayden and Craig Stations. This current phase of the environmental program extends
through startup of Craig Station, Objectives of these studies are: (I) to assess the
operational impact of Hayden Station Units I and 2; and (2) to evaluate potential future
impacts due to operation of Craig Station and to satisfy all environmental stipulations
included in the Colorado Air Pollution Control Commission's emission permit.

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The program was conducted by the Environmental Sciences Division of Steams-Roger
Incorporated for Colorado-Ute Electric Association Incorporated, Salt River Project
Agricultural Improvement and Power District, Tri-State Generation and Transmission
Association Incorporated, and Platte River Municipal Power Association, It was comprised
of four study areas: ecological; meteorological; water resources: and air quality, for both the
Hayden and Craig sites, The first half of this report addresses the study areas for Hayden
with the latter half devoted to Craig, Following is a brief synopsis of results and conclusions
for each study area,

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HAYDEN ECOLOGY

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Ecological investigations were conducted near Hayden Station by Ecology Consultants,
Incorporated, The studies were designed to assess possible operational impacts of Units I
and 2 on aquatic and terrestrial systems, Specific study areas included laboratory and
greenhouse studies of the effects of ash burial on ground water leachate and on the growth
of vegetation, evaluation of sulfur dioxide and water stress injury to vegetation plots, and
analysis of potential impingement and entrainment of fish at the water intake structure,

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To study the potential impacts of ash burial at Peabody's Seneca Mine, leaching and
vegetation studies were initiated, An experiment using mildly acidic and buffered leach was
conducted, It supplemented a previous study on the potential effects of leachate from
buried tlyash on groundwater quality_ The results suggest that under moderately acid rain
conditions only small differences from existing conditions in groundwater ionic concentra-
tions are likely to occur. Characteristics of the overburden largely determine the
characteristics of the groundwater leaving the mine ash burial area, Groundwater leaching
through buried ash and overburden will be as good or perhaps better quality than existing
groundwater,

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A greenhouse growth experiment was designed to evaluate the potential hazards to plant
growth resulting from tlyash burial. Observation of growth responses of several plant species
(i,e, intermediate wheat grass, yellow sweet clover and big sag'ebrush) was used to detennine
potential toxicity or other effects due to different substrates, No such toxic or inhibitory
effects were noted in the investigation for ash burial under overburden, One plant species,
yellow sweet clover, showed an increase in growth when exposed to a buried ash layer
suggesting the possibility that, in some instances, the presence of ash may have a positive
intluence in plant establishment and growth,

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Field sampling of two sensitive plant species, alfalfa and Douglas fir, was conducted to study
the effects of atmospheric sulfur dioxide (S02) on cultivated and natural vegetation, Studies

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