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receives little recharge. Some recharge to this continuous unit may come directly from the <br />percolation of snowmelt and precipitation downward through fractures. While no site-specific <br />aquifer characteristics for this unit are available from the permit area, indications are that saturated <br />portions of the Mesaverde Formation are not viable aquifers (Section 2.04.7, Volume 1). <br />Ground water occurrences in the stratigraphic interval of the Mesaverde Formation above the D <br />seam are a function of the depositional environment and are characterized by saturated horizons <br />of localized lateral and vertical extent, separated by low porosity, unsaturated intervals. These <br />saturated horizons do not appear to contribute significantly to overall regional ground water flow. <br />When in operation, the Bowie No. 1 Mine had experienced maximum inflows of around 1,500 <br />gpd. This inflow came from both the floor and roof and was generally roof drips or wet areas on <br />the floor. Mining progressed below East Roatcap Creek and mine inflows increased but still <br />remained insignificant to the local hydrologic regime. The portals of the East Mine were sealed in <br />2001 and the portals at the West Mine wire sealed in 2000, so no recent mine inflow information <br />is available. <br />Inflows from faults and fractures located outside stream valleys (such as in the Bowie No. 1 Mine) <br />generally dry up with time or flow intermittently at discrete points along the fault or fracture. <br />Those which continue to flow have flow rates which diminish to a trickle. Such inflows may <br />represent the dewateringoflenticular sandstone units with limited recharge areas, or may represent <br />flows through fracture zones extending to the surface which have narrow recharge zones on steep <br />slopes. <br />Surface Water <br />Surface water information is found in Volume 1, Sections 2.04, and 2.05.6, and in Volume 4 of <br />the PAP. Water rights tabulations and an augmentation plan are found in Volumes 5 and 5A. <br />Annual hydrologic reports have been prepared since 1982 and exist as stand-alone volumes. For <br />a description ofthe surface water hydrology ofthe mine permit area anda discussion ofthe impacts <br />of mining on surface water, please refer to the Hydrologic Balance and Probable Hydrologic <br />Consequences portions of Section B of this document. <br />BRL's baseline surface water collection for the permit area consisted of reviewing existing <br />baseline studies on the area, compiling a list of water rights on file with the State Engineer, <br />identifying water resources using aerial photographs, and actual on -the -ground surveys. In the <br />1988 Findings, only one concern with the baseline study that pertained to a proposed area to be <br />minedoutside that five year permit termwasnoted. Colorado Westmoreland, Inc. hadnot obtained <br />right of entry to conduct on -the -ground baseline surveys on two tracts of land totaling 286 acres <br />within the East Roatcap Creek drainage basin. Cyprus Orchard Valley Coal Company obtained <br />the required rights of entry during 1992-93 andp erformed ground reconnaissance for surface water <br />sources on these areas as baseline data for Permit Revision No. 3. <br />The Bowie No. 1 Mine permit area is drained by East Roatcap Creek, West Roatcap Creek, Main <br />Roatcap Creek, Steven's Gulch, Coal Gulch, and Terror Creek, all of which are tributaries to the <br />North Fork of the Gunnison. <br />10 <br />