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West Elk Mine 2013 Annual Hydrology Report 7 Figure 6. Average Daily Flow Data for the North Fork of the Gunnison River near Somerset, CO (USGS 09132500) 2.500 2,000 3 0 1.500 1,000 G d Im 500 t 0 Oct 1 Nov 1 Dec 1 Jan 1 Feb 1 Mar 1 Apr 1 May 1 Jun 1 Jul 1 Aug 1 Sep 1 North Fork of the Gunnison River Water Years 19342012 Water Year 2013 Adapted from USGS (2014a) 2.2.2 Flows in Minnesota Creek near Paonia, CO A summary of the average monthly stream flow data for the Minnesota Creek near Paonia, CO (USGS 09134000; Hydrologic Unit 14020004) gaging station including historical and WY 2013 data, is graphically presented in Figure 7. The average daily flows in Minnesota Creek near Paonia in WY 2013 ranged from 1.8 cfs (December 10 and 20, 2012) to 64 cfs (May 18, 2013) (USGS, 2014b). In comparison, historical daily averages have ranged from 3.3 cfs (January 12 -15) to 106 cfs (May 22) over the period of record from WY 1937 through WY 1947 and WY 1986 through WY 2012 (USGS, 2014b). The average daily flows in Minnesota Creek near Paonia in WY 2013 were below average for the entire water year, except for brief periods in July, August, and September 2013 (USGS, 2014b) (Figure 7). The mean annual flow in Minnesota Creek near Paonia in WY 2013 was 11.1 cfs, corresponding to about 52% of the historical mean annual flow (21.6 cfs) over the period of record through WY 2012 (USGS, 2014b). The maximum daily mean flow in Minnesota Creek in WY 2013 was 64 cfs on May 18, 2013 compared to the maximum peak flow for the period of record, 359 cfs on May 28, 1993, and the average maximum peak flow of 106 cfs on May 22 (USGS, 2014d). Natural stream flow in Minnesota Creek can be affected by two small storage reservoirs (Beaver and Minnesota Reservoirs), small trans -basin diversions from Coal Creek into Minnesota Creek, and diversions upstream from the station for irrigation of about 100 acres (USGS, 2014d). June 2014 HydroGeo, Inc.