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CHAPTER VI PRELIMINARY FINDINGS o l'\) Ul A Consistent water quality, coupled with the smooth decline in water levels, indicates that surface water is not recharging the Morrison aquifer on or around Meeker Dome, further supporting the hypothesis that the water in this aquifer was coming from deeper sources. . Ongoing Activities The monitoring program, scheduled to continue through September 1984, is being conducted to determine the long-term effects of the well plugging and to provide additional confirmation of the salt loading mechanism. A weekly sampling schedule is maintained for the five surface water stations used in the salt loading analysis--three on the White River and one each on Coal and Curtis Creeks. All spring and seep stations and observation wells are documented by photographs, and field data includ- ing flow/water level, temperature, conductivity, and pH are recorded quarterly. In late 1983, water samples were taken from three obser- vation wells and from the large springs for laboratory analysis. Each monitoring trip also includes a site visit Marland, Scott, and James Wells to observe and record surface conditions that could indicate renewed leakage. the Marland and James Wells are also recorded during addition, the outlying oil wells are photographed and for renewed seepage. to the Meeker, any changes in Water levels in each visit. In checked annually At the end of each year of monitoring, water quality data have been and will continue to be reviewed to assess the salt loading conditions at the dome. The data gathered during the 1983 monitoring season are now being analyzed and a monitoring report is being prepared. If no significant changes are noted in the quality and flow of water, the river sampling will possibly be reduced to a monthly basis. Site visits will continue on a quarterly basis through September 1984, as will annual water quality sampling for laboratory analysis purposes. Because of the apparent increase in sodium and chloride levels in the White River above Coal Creek, occasional flow measurements and water quality samples will continue to be taken beyond 1984. Data evaluations should be based on the fact that the Meeker Dome seepage represented the largest single source of chloride entering the river in this area and that recurrence of seepage would be first detected as an increase in chloride in the surface water. . No additional verification is needed if the results of the monitor- ing program continue to indicate that well plugging has eliminated the salt loading. If monitoring data were to indicate an increase in flows from springs and/or a rise in observation well water levels, then the well plugs have probably failed. If confirmed by field data, failure of the plugs would not require any additional verification of the well- related flow hypothesis but would require additional plugging. If 23