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Peabody Sage Creek Mine (C-2009-087) MT- 2 <br />The potentiometric surface of ground water in the confined portions of the bedrock units slopes <br />generally basinward. Local relief on the potentiometric surface probably mimics the overlying <br />topography, with potentiometric highs and lows roughly coinciding with the overlying highs and lows <br />of the land surface. The alluvium of Grassy Creek and Fish Creek, and their tributaries, is either <br />directly recharged by stream flow or discharges to stream flow, depending on stream flow level. The <br />alluvial aquifers probably contribute to stream baseflow during dry periods. <br />Natural Springs <br />The permit application contains information on natural springs in Section 2.04.7, Map 2.04.7 M2, and <br />Table 2.04.7-T7.2. In addition to spoil springs, an inventory of natural springs and seeps within and <br />adjacent to the PSCM permit boundary sampled 9 springs, 7 of which have adjudicated water rights. <br />Flows sampled were less than 5 gallons per minute and TDS ranged from 430 to 2920 mg/I range. <br />Surface Water <br />Surface water hydrology information can be found in Section 2.04.5 of the permit application. The <br />information includes baseline data collected in 2008 and 2009. Of approximately 10,164 acres in the <br />PSCM permit area, 9,361 acres are in the Grassy Creek drainage basin and 803 acres are in the Fish <br />Creek drainage basin. Grassy Creek and Fish Creek are perennial streams that are tributaries of the <br />Yampa River. Grassy Creek has intermittent or ephemeral tributaries in the PSCM permit area that <br />include Little Grassy Creek, Annand Draw, and Scotchman's Gulch. Fish Creek has an intermittent <br />tributary in the PSCM permit area, Cow Camp Creek. <br />Grassy Creek flows into the Yampa River approximately two miles north of the PSCM permit <br />boundary. Fish Creek flows into Trout Creek approximately six miles east of the PSCM permit <br />boundary. Trout Creek flows into the Yampa approximately five miles north of the Fish Creek/ Trout <br />Creek confluence. <br />Climate <br />The climate of the region has the characteristics of a continental highland region: low precipitation, <br />large fluctuations in diurnal temperatures, low humidity, moderate wind, and high levels of exposure <br />to sunlight. Annual precipitation is generally between 16 and 19 inches based on records from the <br />Seneca II -W Mine. <br />Vegetation <br />Vegetation in the permit area is predominantly sagebrush grassland, mountain brush, and reclaimed <br />mine lands. The disturbance area of the PSCM contains reclaimed lands, and previously undisturbed <br />sagebrush/grassland vegetation. <br />Page 6 of 12 <br />