2015-07-01_REPORT - C1980007

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 7/1/2015
• From: Hydro Geo, Inc
• To: DRMS
• Annual Report Year: 2014
• Permit Index Doc Type: Hydrology Report
• Email Name: JRS
• Email Name: MPB
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

West Elk Mine 2014 Annual Hydrology Report 17
3.1.3.5 Deer Creek
Deer Creek is an ephemeral stream that is tributary to Dry Fork and only flows in
response to storm events and spring runoff. Deer Creek flows into Dry Fork, upstream of
the Minnesota Reservoir Flume monitoring station and downstream of the Middle Dry
Fork monitoring station. Deer Creek is located in the SOD mine panels area. The Deer
Creek monitoring station was established as a new monitoring location in the spring of
2005 (Map 2) and does not have a flume or data logger. Baseline monthly monitoring of
Deer Creek was conducted in WY 2005. Routine monitoring (three times per year) of
Deer Creek began in WY 2006.
3.1.3.6 Horse Gulch and East Gulch, East of Horse Gulch
Horse Gulch and East Gulch, East of Horse Gulch are ephemeral stream drainages that
are tributary to the Dry Fork and flow only in response to storm events and spring runoff.
Horse Gulch flows into Minnesota Reservoir. East Gulch, East of Horse Gulch flows
from the north into the Dry Fork, upstream of the Minnesota Reservoir Flume monitoring
station and downstream of the Middle Dry Fork monitoring station. Horse Gulch is down
gradient of the southwest mine panels area. East Gulch, East of Horse Gulch overlies the
southwest and SOD mine panels areas. These monitoring stations were established in
1977, do not have flumes or data loggers, and are located north and northeast of
Minnesota Reservoir, respectively (Map 2).
3.1.3.7 Minnesota Creek (Upper, Lower)
Minnesota Creek is the major stream that drains the southwestern portion of the permit
area. There are two stream monitoring stations in Minnesota Creek: Upper Minnesota
Creek, located upstream of the confluence with Dry Fork; and Lower Minnesota Creek,
located downstream of the confluence with Dry Fork. The Upper Minnesota Creek
monitoring station was established by the United States Forest Service (USFS) in 1977 to
collect baseline data for the SOD mine panels area and to support the Minnesota Creek
Augmentation Plan. The Upper Minnesota Creek Flume site has a 48 -inch Parshall flume
and a data logger.
The Lower Minnesota Creek station monitors the SOD mine panels area and the
southwest mine panels area (Map 2). The USGS monitored the Lower Minnesota Creek
station (USGS 09134000) from 1937 to 1947 and from 1985 to April 2, 2014, when the
station was decommissioned. In mid-April 2014, CDWR installed a new staff gage and
strip chart stream depth recorder at the same location. A flow rating curve has not yet
been developed for the new Lower Minnesota Creek staff gage. A continuous stream
depth recorder was also installed by HydroGeo at the same location in June 2014.
CDWR and HydroGeo will continue to monitor and record gage height at the station.
3.1.3.8 South Prong Creek
South Prong Creek is an ephemeral stream that is tributary to Upper Minnesota Creek.
The north fork of South Prong Creek drains the southern portion of the SOD mine plan
area. The monitoring station on South Prong Creek is located at the mouth of the
drainage (Map 2) and does not have a flume or data logger. Preliminary flow and water
quality data were collected during a one time sampling round of this site in 2005
(HydroGeo, 2006). South Prong Creek is not part of the current (WY 2014) monitoring
June 2015 HydroGeo, Inc.