2013-10-02_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (2)

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RULE 2 PERMITS Additional Information The following excerpt taken from an October 8, 1981 letter from Colowyo to the Division expands further on the colluvium in the Taylor Creek drainage. "In the original permit application submittal, Colowyo had described the soils in the Taylor Creek Drainage (see Map 19, Regional Hydrology) as Quaternary Alluvium. The description was derived from a U. S. Department of Agriculture Service Soils Classification Survey at the series level which identified the Taylor Drainage soil as a (stratified alluvium)." "On the basis of a September 18, 1981 field reconnaissance by Colowyo personnel together with Dave Craig and Brian Munson of the CMLRD staff, it was agreed that the SCS classification of Taylor Creek as an area of stratified alluvium was and is erroneous particularly as geomorphic criteria required to describe an AVF are absent. As a consequence, the designation of the Taylor Creek Drainage as quaternary alluvium on Map 10, Regional Hydrology has been deleted. This area should be mapped as colluvium. "Other examination of the area on September 18, 1981 further confirmed a colluvial classification, in that some unsuccessful irrigation in the area is presumed to have occurred, and such irrigation was practiced on the colluvial slopes adjacent to the bottom of the drainage. No irrigation ditches, however, are extant, and it is apparent that no subirrigation occurs in the area ". "Additionally, insufficient water flows in the Taylor drainage to sustain any flood irrigation. Irrigation apparently began from a ditch known as the Mary C. ditch in 1913 on an undetermined acreage, but was certainly less than 25 acres. The state Division of Water Resources records date back to 1960, and they have no record that this ditch has been used since that time. Years ago small isolated areas such as this could be irrigated economically, and were important to 160 acre size homesteads ". "However, in recent years with larger farms and ranches, larger equipment, and increased labor costs, small isolated areas such as this are seldom irrigated. This is especially the case when the water source is from an ephemeral drainage such as Taylor Creek, and runoff is mostly a function of snow melt and large precipitation events, and varies largely from year to year ". "The revised Map 10 - Regional Hydrology will be submitted when all of the map revisions have been completed. Map 10 will also be revised to show that the area of quaternary alluvium extends to the confluence of Taylor and Wilson Creeks from the north. The labeling of the gauging stations at the confluence of Taylor and Wilson Creeks will also be corrected on the revised Map 10 ". In order to verify the predicted effects of mining activities on groundwater and surface water, Stipulation #1 of the initial Permit required Colowyo to submit a comprehensive water monitoring plan. For further details regarding this plan, refer to Section 4.05.13, Surface and Groundwater Monitoring. Refer to the 1983 - 1989 Annual Reclamation Reports for further details as to the data collected. 2.06.9 Augering and Hgghwall Mining Colowyo has successfully performed highwall mining at the Colowyo Mine in the West, East and South Taylor Pits. Even though the Division does not have specific regulations that pertain to highwall mining, the provisions in the Regulations applicable to Auger Mining shall be followed for permitting purposes. Rule 2 Permits 2.06 -8 Revision Date: 10/18/13 Revision No.: TR -100