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'fit E M 18 <br />those portions of Newlin Creek below the diversion exhibit the characteristics of an <br />ephemeral stream. Ephemeral streams draining the mine area drain to the northeast and <br />are tributary to Hardscrabble and Coal Creeks with Hardscrabble Creek being an <br />ephemeral stream and Coal Creek being classified as a perennial stream. These two <br />(2) drainages in turn discharge to the Arkansas River which is the major perennial <br />drainage in this area. The mine area is located approximately eight (8) miles south of the <br />confluence of Hardscrabble, and Coal Creeks with the Arkansas River as shown on the <br />Regional Hydrogeology Map, (Map 5). <br />The Southfield loadout area is intersected by a low topographic ridge, with the eastern <br />portion of the loadout area draining to Chandler Creek and the western portion <br />draining to nearby Oak Creek. Chandler Creek is an ephemeral stream while Oak <br />Creek may exhibit either ephemeral or perennial flows in the loadout area dependent upon <br />upstream water use. Both Oak and Chandler Creeks discharge to the Arkansas River less <br />than one (1) mile from the loadout area as shown on Regional Hydrogeology Map, (Map 5). <br />The status of monitoring surface flows at Oak Creek has changed since closure of the <br />mine in 2000, and subsequent reclamation activities at the loadout site through 2014. <br />Oak Creek is no longer monitored in accordance with an approved revision to the <br />permit application. <br />From the initiation of monitoring activities in 1979 to the present, Dorchester, and <br />subsequently EFCI, have monitored surface water flows for Newlin, Magpie and Oak <br />Creeks (Oak Creek monitoring terminated) on a regular basis when flow has occurred. <br />With expansion of the Southfield permit area in conjunction with this permit revision <br />application, EFCI established an additional monitoring station and initiate regular <br />monitoring activities on Second Alkali Creek. The only other surface water monitoring <br />information available for permit and adjacent areas is diversion records for the City of <br />Florence diversion on upper Newlin Creek which are maintained by Water Division II, of <br />the State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources. With the exceptions of Oak and <br />Coal Creeks, and the Arkansas River which are perennial drainages, all streams draining <br />the mine and loadout areas and downstream tributary drainages are ephemeral streams <br />which flow only in response to snowmelt and major thunderstorm events. <br />2.05.6 -10 Revised: 8/1/14 RN -06 <br />