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HYDROLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION AND MONITORING PLAN 18 <br />gradient of the coal refuse pile, respectively. Hydrologic monitoring at these three sites began in <br />1977. <br />4.1.2 Lower North Fork Drainage Basin Surface Water Monitoring <br />Stations <br />4.1.2.1 North Fork Lower <br />The North Fork Lower monitoring station monitors the North Fork down -gradient of the mine <br />facilities area and mine discharge points (Plate 1). Hydrologic monitoring of the North Fork <br />Lower site is conducted by the USGS and began in 1935. <br />4.1.3 Minnesota Creek Drainage Basin Surface Water Monitoring Stations <br />4.1.3.1 Lick Creek Flume <br />Lick Creek is an ephemeral stream that is tributary to upper Minnesota Creek and flows only in <br />response to storm events and spring runoff. Lick Creek drains the southern part of the SOD mine <br />panels area (Plate 1). The Lick Creek Flume monitoring station was established in 1977 when <br />MCC was originally planning to develop this tract and consists of an 18 -inch Parshall flume and <br />a data logger. Hydrologic monitoring at this site began in 1977. The site was also established as <br />part of the Minnesota Creek Water Augmentation Plan (WWE, 1986). <br />4.1.3.2 Dry Fork Flumes <br />4.1.3.2.1 Upper, Middle, and Lower Dry Fork Flumes <br />Dry Fork is an ephemeral stream that is tributary to middle Minnesota Creek. There are four <br />surface water monitoring stations in the Dry Fork drainage: Upper Dry Fork Flume, Middle Dry <br />Fork Flume, Lower Dry Fork Flume, and Minnesota Reservoir Flume. The Upper and Middle <br />Dry Fork stations were established to monitor the SOD mine panels area. The Lower Dry Fork <br />station was established to monitor the SOD mine panels area and the southwest mine panels area <br />(Plate 1). These stations were also established to support the Minnesota Creek Augmentation <br />Plan. <br />The Upper, Middle, and Lower Dry Fork stations have 30 -inch Parshall flumes and data loggers. <br />In October 2005, the Upper Dry Fork Flume monitoring station was relocated further upstream <br />and replaced the initial site, because it was frequently flooded by beaver dams. MCC initiated <br />new monthly baseline monitoring of this relocated site in WY 2006 and routine monitoring <br />(three times per year) began in WY 2007. The Lower Dry Fork Flume was replaced in its <br />existing location in October 2006 (WY 2007). Monitoring at the Upper, Middle, and Lower Dry <br />Fork flumes began in 1977. <br />4.1.3.2.2 Minnesota Reservoir Flume <br />MCC installed a 30 -inch flume and a data logger at the Minnesota Reservoir monitoring station <br />above the high water line of Minnesota Reservoir in October 2006. The Minnesota Reservoir <br />station was established to monitor the SOD mine panels area and the southwest mine panels area <br />(Plate 1). The Minnesota Reservoir Flume monitoring station (Plate 1) provides more accurate <br />and more representative monitoring data than the Lower Dry Fork flume, since it isn't influenced <br />by water storage in and releases from Minnesota Reservoir. Baseline monthly monitoring of the <br />Minnesota Reservoir Flume was conducted in WY 2006. Routine monitoring (three times per <br />Revised 09/07- PRI 2; 08/16- TRI 39 HydroGeo, Inc <br />