2016-02-03_PERMIT FILE - C1981038 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1981038
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 2/3/2016
• Section_Exhibit Name: Volume 1 2.04 Environmental Resources
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

42.04 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SURFACE OR UNDERGROUND MINING ACTIVITIES --
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES.

2.04.7 Rydrology Description.
(2) Surface Water Information.
(a) and (b) (Cont'd,)
The apparent discrepancy may be attributed to the lim-
ited baseline data available for the coal areas because
no large run-off events that would cause excessive ero-
sion and high sediment yields are included in the time
frame studied and to an absence of data for the Little
Bookcliffs and Grand Mesa coal fields, both of which
are comparatively arid and subjec[ to locally high
rates of channel and upland erosion. Studies by Lusby
(1978) in small watersheds in Badger Wash near Fruita,
(see Figure 2.03-I) where runoff and erosion character-
istics should be representative of the more arid west-
ern coal fields, show an average annual sediment yield
for the period 1953-73 of 1.80 ac-ft/sq-mi (approxi-
mately 2,750 tons/sq-mi/yr). On that basis, annual
sediment yield from the Little Bookcliffs and Grand Me-
sa coal fields would probably average 0.5 to 1.0 ac-
ft/sq-mi (750 to 1,500 tons/sq-mi), Observations in
the eastern United States coal fields, however, show
much less erosion because of a good protective plant
cover, moderate grazing use, and generally stable
soils. Sediment yield in this part of the area is es-
timated to be less than 50 tons/sq-mi/yr from the more
stable areas and should not greatly exceed 250 tons/sq-
mi/yr from the less stable disturbed areas. It is es-
timated, therefore that total sediment yield from the
coal areas is between 300,000 and 600,000 tons/yr. If
so, the coal areas yield only 3 to 6 percent of the [o-
tal suspended sediment load in the Colorado River at
the state line.
Inventories conducted by Thorne Ecological Institute in
1977 and 1978 showed that aquatic life in the North
Fork consisted of attached filamentous algae, snails,
crustaceans, leaches, beetles, mayflies, rainbow trout,
brown trout, and other plant, benthic, insect, and fish
life. As discussed in Section 2.04.7(1), small pond
riparian areas of high value for wildlife occur along
the North Fork, but are not common in the vicinity of
Paonia, No threatened or endangered fish species are
known to inhabit the North Fork, but three species
Added 12/26/84
• Revised 12/26/84
Revised 10/01/87
46