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Eventually, some effects will be seen at this well. The effects may be exhibited as <br />increased levels of dissolved solids or other chemical parameters (sulphur, iron) <br />and/or diminished quantity of water at the well. These effects will probably not be <br />seen until a number of years after mining has reached its closest point to the well. <br />Eventually, effects will diminish as the dissolved solids are leached from the spoils, <br />and the aquifer characteristics return to normal. <br />Locally, the major impacts of mining include affecting the quantity and/or quality <br />of Springs S-1, S-5, 5-23, 5-41 and 5-45. Effects of mining at these sites will not <br />be observed for a few years after mining is at its closest to these points. The Olson <br />Spring (5-45), located about 9,000 feet downgradient of mining, could potentially <br />be impacted. This spring, which issues from the Dry Creek alluvium, could suffer <br />a degradation in water quality. This would occur if the Hubberson Gulch and Dry <br />Creek alluvium are recharged by the spoils aquifer discharge. As discussed in the <br />Surface Water section of the Probable Hydrologic Consequences assessmentof this <br />document, this discharge will be of very poor quality. If the quality of Olson Spring, <br />a domestic water right, is affected, the applicant will be responsible for replacing <br />this impacted water with domestic quality water in the adjudicated quantities. <br />The probable impacts to these sites will most likely be observed as a diminution in <br />quantity of water available and a degradation of water quality. The impacts to Spring <br />S-5, a colluvial spring, and 5-41, a Williams Fork Formation spring, will be observed <br />as a decrease in quantity of water available and a degradation of water quality. The <br />recharge areas for these springs will be mined out. Springs 5-41 and 5-23 both feed <br />registered stock ponds. 5-41 feeds Temple Pond No. 2, a registered right with the <br />State of Colorado. Spring 5-25 was mined through in the mid to late 1990's. Spring <br />S-1 may be affected by a redirection of ground water potential toward the backfilled <br />pits. <br />Spring 5-23 may be impacted by mining. 5-23 feeds Temple Pond No. 1, which is <br />also registered and is upgradient of mining activities. <br />It will probably be a number of years after mining comes closest to these springs that <br />the effects in quantity and/or quality are observed. Again, this is due to the low <br />transmissivity and storativity values associated with the local strata. Most of these <br />springs are used for stock watering. Mining should not prohibit this use, because <br />TDS levels will not surpass EPA limitations for stock watering purposes. Post - <br />mining consequences of mining will be the development of spoils aquifers in the <br />backfilled pits. The reclaimed pits will have the highest permeability/porosity values <br />of any local aquifers. The backfilled pits will induce recharge from precipitation and <br />surface runoff, from up gradient in the Williams Fork formation, and from <br />downgradient in the Williams Fork and Wadge coal. Until an equilibrium is <br />established between the backfilled pits and the surrounding aquifers, a diminution of <br />water quantity may be expected at some springs (S-1, S-5, 5-23, 5-41) and at Temple <br />Well No. 1. <br />22 <br />