Laserfiche WebLink
salinity of the waters in East Salt Creek and the East Salt Creek alluvium, downstream <br />farmers will not suffer loss of production due to the addition of the combined discharge. <br />The following table presents the impact the combined discharge would have on the EC <br />in East Salt Creek measured above the McClane Canyon Mine at SW -1 during irrigation <br />season (April — October): <br />Table N-1 <br />PHC East Salt (2005 - 2009) Creek <br />Conductivity <br />Irrigation % % <br />Season Increase Decrease <br />2005 0.20% <br />2006 -7.5% <br />2007 -5.5% <br />2008 -4.96% <br />2009 -17.91% <br />5 -Year mass balance -7.4% <br />The combined discharge generally improves the conductivity of East Salt Creek surface <br />waters. However, in 2005 there was a slight increase, but the 0.2% increase is nearly <br />negligible as the increase was only 4 micromhos/cm. The mass balance for the <br />irrigation season is calculated by multiplying the flow by the conductivity and dividing by <br />the sum of flow. See Tables N-2 through N-6 for yearly mass -balances. (Mass balance <br />is for the irrigation season only). <br />The East Salt Creek Alluvium is recognized as an alluvial valley floor. Data gathered <br />over the last several water years for GW -3 demonstrates the combined discharge has <br />not had a negative impact on the alluvial groundwater. As shown below, nearly all <br />conductivity data recorded falls between the GW -3 baseline and the combined water <br />average conductivity reference line. Since nearly all the data points fall below the <br />baseline for GW -3, it is not likely the combined discharge has increased the conductivity <br />of the alluvial groundwater. The combined discharge could only lower the conductivity <br />of the alluvial groundwater since the conductivity of the combined discharge is less than <br />Appendix N — PR -02 - 4 - 10/10 <br />