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West Elk Mine 2014 Annual Hydrology Report 7 Figure 6. Average Daily Flow for the North Fork of the Gunnison River near Somerset, CO (USGS 09132500) North Fork of the Gunnison River 3,500 _._ _..__.._.. i '.. -Daily Average Streamfbw 3,000 rII�E Ys 1934 -2013 —Daily Average Streamflow ream flow 2,500 Y 2014 —Estimated Daily Average 2000 - AQYY> , ______ Streamflo_w. WY 201-4 1,500 _._. 1.000 -- ----------- --------------------- -_�-_____-_ 5W_ _ -------------- 0 _ ._._._._..____.._.-._._. aml Dict Adapted from USGS (2015a) 2.2.2 Flows in Minnesota Creek near Paonia, CO As noted above, the USGS gaging station at Minnesota Creek near Paonia (USGS 09134000) was decommissioned on April 2, 2014. In mid-April 2014, CDWR installed a new staff gage and strip chart stream depth recorder at the same location (Lower Minnesota Creek). A continuous stream depth recorder was also installed by HydroGeo in June 2014. The flow rating curve for the new Lower Minnesota Creek staff gage has not yet been developed. A summary of the average daily stream flow data for the Minnesota Creek near Paonia, CO (USGS 09134000; Hydrologic Unit 14020004) gaging station including historical and WY 2014 data through April 2, 2014, is graphically presented in Figure 7. Measured and daily average CDWR gage heights at Lower Minnesota Creek (same location) from April through September 30, 2014 are shown on Figure 8. It should be noted that no direct comparison can be made between historical USGS streamflow data and current CDWR gage height data, until a streamflow rating curve is developed for the new CDWR gaging station. 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, 2015d). June 2015 HydroGeo, Inc.