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NPDES Effluent Criteria (Permit No. CO -0048275). <br />No excursions of effluent limits occurred this year. <br />Surface Water Summary. <br />Water discharged from the PSCM is not used directly for irrigation. No <br />irrigation exists on Grassy Creek or Cow Camp Creek below the PSCM. <br />Indirectly, although, water discharged from the mine is significantly <br />diluted by water from either Fish Creek or the Yampa River before it is <br />diverted and used for irrigation. Due to the relative amount of dilution <br />by additional water from both sources, the ambient water qualities of <br />Fish Creek and the Yampa River are the dominant factors in determining <br />their suitability for irrigation. Water discharged from the PSCM is, <br />however, used for livestock watering. <br />TDS values at NPDES3 are decreasing. TDS values at NPDES4 appear to be <br />stabilizing with a slightly increasing trend this year. At lower Grassy <br />Creek Site YSG5, values appear to be stable. At Site NPDES2, TDS trends <br />are increasing. Of the eight spoil springs monitored, five are <br />exhibiting decreasing TDS trends, and three display increasing trends. <br />Although Spoil Spring 6A displays an increasing TDS trend, this site <br />does not have enough data to determine an accurate trend. NPDES <br />discharges are normally suitable for livestock and irrigation, but <br />exceeded water quality standards (,selenium and iron) for aquatic life <br />this year. <br />23 <br />