2013-10-02_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (3)

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RULE 2 PERMITS Detailed Surface Water Resource Information Surface Water Characteristics -The South TaylodLower Wilson permit revision area includes the drainages of Good Spring, Wilson, Taylor, and Jubb Creeks. Colowyo's existing mining operations exist primarily in the Good Spring Creek drainage. Although Taylor Creek is a tributary to Wilson Creek, the point of confluence is several miles downstream from the South Taylor/Lower Wilson permit revision area, and thus Taylor Creek is examined as a separate drainage in this presentation. The principal drainages within the permit revision area described below. Good Sorin~ -_The Good Spring Creek watershed encompasses an area of about 35 square miles. The drainage is characterized by steep sloping upland areas and narrow flat valley bottoms. Slopes approaching or exceeding 50 percent are common, primarily due to the preponderance of exposed bedrock strata (CDM, 1985b). Incision has created deep gullies in reaches locally within the permit revision area, and bank sloughing is contributing to channel widening. Other, more stable reaches are armored along the channel bottom by cobbles or exposed bedrock. Good Spring Creek has a higher baseflow than other area creeks in part due to flow contributions from perennial springs in the West Fork of Good Spring Creek. Wilson Creek -The Wilson Creek watershed encompasses an area of about 20 square miles. Similar to Good Spring Creek, the Wilson Creek drainage is characterized by narrow upland areas, steeply sloping hillsides, and flat valley bottoms. The tributary channels are incised into bedrock. The valley bottom exhibits morphologic evidence of historic landslide debris accumulation, which serves as a transporting media for bedrock groundwater dischazge and side valley runoff to recharge surface water flows (CDM, 1985b). This recharge mechanism is illustrated by seeps along the banks of the stream. . Taylor Creek -The Taylor Creek watershed encompasses an area of about 7.22 square miles. Slopes are variable, ranging from 20 to 25 percent in the broad upland area in the highest portion of the watershed, and generally steeper throughout the remainder of the basin leading to the valley bottom. Bedrock stability in the area inhibits the accumulation of mass-wasting debris (CDM, 1985b). The channel is relatively steep, typically greater than ten percent, and incision and bank sloughing are limited due [o the bedrock control. Surface Water Quantity -The South Taylor/Lower Wilson permit revision area extends from Colowyo's existing mining operations in the Good Spring Creek watershed into [he Wilson Creek, Taylor Creek, and Jubb Creek watersheds. Baseline monitoring was conducted from September 1996 through September 1997 in each of these drainages. Additional baseline monitoring was conducted in March 1999 through August 2000 in Good Spring Creek. The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division's Guidelines for the Collection of Baseline Water Quality Data were utilized during the baseline monitoring. Water quality sampling and laboratory analyses were conducted in accordance with Rule 2.03.3(4) for analytes defined in Rule 2.04.7(2) and for analytes also listed in the CDMG Guidelines for the Collection of Baseline Water Quality and Overburden Geochemistry. Field measurements for pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and flow were monitored monthly. Quarterly monitoring included a full suite of analyses at each location. Analysis for metals included only total recoverable concentrations. South Taylor/lower Wilson -Rule 2, Page 46 Revision Date: 11 /30/06 Revision No.: PR-02