Laserfiche WebLink
2015 Annual Hydrology Report Energy Fuels Coal, Inc. - Southfield Mine <br />The approved surface water monitoring schedule required, prior to approval of TR -43, semi-annual <br />creek sampling typically conducted during the second and fourth quarters at the five monitoring <br />stations listed above. Field measurements and laboratory data for surface water stations are <br />summarized in the following discussions. Stream flow measurements since 1985 are summarized <br />and shown in Appendix B. Field and laboratory data for 2015 are provided in Appendix D. Earlier <br />stream flow data for all monitoring stations are documented in AHR's on file at the Division. <br />Field and laboratory water quality data representing the reporting period, including all available <br />data for previous years, for the surface water monitoring stations on Newlin, Magpie, and Second <br />Alkali Creeks are summarized in Appendix B, on Tables 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Ongoing monitoring <br />of surface flows for these three creeks provides for identification and evaluation of any ongoing <br />changes in water quality and quantity that may result from mining and related activities. <br />Monitoring data provided Appendix D indicate significant flows occurred at the approved <br />monitoring points at Newlin Creek, Magpie Creek and Second Alkali Creek when monitoring was <br />conducted in the spring. These conditions were not typical when compared with those found in <br />recent years during the same time periods. The flows were attributed to spring rains that persisted <br />for 6 to 8 weeks, beginning in late April. <br />During active mining operations Newlin Creek typically flowed for up to several weeks as a result <br />of spring snow melt. On only few occasions the creek flowed briefly in response to a heavy rain <br />event. In recent years the typical springtime flows along the monitored steam system have generally <br />ceased as observed by EFCI and documented in related AHR's. During 2013, 2014, and again in <br />2015, EFCI conducted supplemental monitoring to further assess and document hydrologic <br />conditions at locations along Newlin Creek including the Florence Reservoir (above the Mountain <br />Park), the Mountain Park road culvert, and the Thompson Ranch road crossing culvert. This <br />monitoring was done periodically from April through August, usually following rain events. Field <br />notes for reporting period documenting this monitoring effort are included in Appendix E. <br />Identification of possible long-term trends in surface water flow were provided in TR -43, as discussed <br />below. The stream flow table provided in Appendix B includes all available monitored flow rate <br />data for Newlin Creek, Magpie Creek, and Second Alkali Creek. Included with TR -43 were graphs <br />of these data shown as measured flow rate against time. These graphs were developed for the <br />purpose of evaluating any apparent long-term trends in surface water flow. <br />These flow data are measurements of flow that represent a rate of flow at one moment in time. Due <br />to the ephemeral nature of all three creeks, flows are typically of very short duration. Almost all <br />flow events were observed to persist for less than a day. Only Newlin Creek flows could, during <br />some years, continue for up to several weeks during the spring runoff. Importantly, measurement <br />of total flow quantity is not required and no such data exists for flows in Southfield permit area. <br />The intermittent flows in the monitored creeks are a direct result of the the number of significant <br />rain events in the Southfield area. In the case of Newlin Creek, observations on the creek over time <br />suggest that the number flow events are more dependent on snow melt runoff, typically in the <br />second calendar quarter, than on rain events. <br />Page 8 <br />