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2.1 GROUND WATER -LEVEL CHANGES <br />2.1.1 SUMMARY <br />Significant mine activities during 2015 included the continued expansion of the K and L <br />pits. Mining in the F pit, which started in 1997, ceased mining in 2011 with only reclamation <br />activities in 2012 through 2015 in this area. Mining was initiated in 2001 in the G pit, which was <br />idle in 2010 through 2015. The K pit was mined in the K, MK, LK, ML, LL, M, Q and R seams in <br />2015. L pit mined in seams H, I1, I2, K, MK, LK, ML, LL, M, MM, LM and Q seams in 2015. <br />Dewatering occurred in only the K and L pits during 2015 with a volume of 32.41 ac -ft pumped. <br />Well dewatering of 50.74 ac -ft was produced in 2015 near the G pit. <br />Annual precipitation for 2015 was slightly above normal at 17.30 inches, compared to the <br />Trapper record and long -tern record (Figure 2-1). The 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 <br />precipitation were above normal while the 2012 precipitation is significantly below normal, the 2013 <br />precipitation at normal and the 2014 and 2015 slightly above normal, relative to the Trapper average <br />since 1978 (see Figure 2-1). The last three years were above, previous year below and the prior six <br />years were significantly above the long-term record average. Recharge in this geographic setting is <br />directly related to precipitation. <br />The effects of natural recharge variations on the respective aquifers can be observed in <br />wells located in undisturbed areas away from the influence of mining activities. Wells GC -2, GC -3 <br />and GP -9 are used to indicate natural response in the past but need to be used with caution starting in <br />2000 due to mining moving into this area. Well GC -3 exhibited the alluvial water -level response <br />with fairly steady water levels in 2015. The effects on the 3rd White Sandstone aquifer are observed <br />in wells GC -2 and GP -9. Wells GC -2 and GP -9 show an overall fairly steady water level in 2015 <br />showing minimum affects from the below average precipitation in 2012 and the near and above <br />Trapper Mining Company 2-2 <br />2015 Annual Report <br />