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Ground Water <br />No major bedrock aquifers of regional extent have been identified in the permit and adjacent area <br />by the applicant. Drilling has indicated that the Cameo coal seam becomes increasingly saturated <br />downdip from its outcrop in Munger Canyon. The Cameo seam subcrops below the East Salt Creek <br />alluvium. This indicates that East Salt Creek, several miles from the mine, is the recharge source for <br />the Cameo coal seam. Some local lenticular strata of limited extent have been identified above <br />the Cameo seam which contain perched ground water. Underground mining activities at the <br />Munger Canyon Mine were up dip and away from the saturated zone in the Cameo seam (see Figure <br />4.4-1 of the application). <br />Alluvial ground water exists within the East Salt Creek alluvium. The East Salt Creek Valley <br />contains an intermittent stream channel. <br />Surface Water <br />Munger Canyon contains an ephemeral channel, which is tributary to East Salt Creek. Ground water <br />in the alluvium and colluvium of Munger Canyon is at depths greater than 40 feet and thus is too <br />deep to support subirrigation of crops. <br />Several ephemeral tributaries to Munger Canyon were originally planned to be undermined during <br />the life of mine. In addition, two ephemeral tributaries to Big Salt Wash; Buniger and Stove Canyons, <br />were also planned to be undermined during the five-year permit period and life of mine. Only one <br />Munger tributary was undermined. As of December 2007, the portals have been sealed and <br />backfilled, and no further mining is proposed or approved. <br />Climate <br />The climate in the region is semi -arid. Prevailing winds at or near ground level at the mine are <br />dictated by the orientation of the deeply incised Munger Canyon and occur from the north-northwest. <br />The annual average precipitation recorded at Fruita (21 miles southeast of Munger Canyon) is <br />8.8 inches. In the immediate mine vicinity, annual precipitation increases with elevation from <br />approximately 11 inches along the East Salt Creek valley, to approximately 15 inches along the <br />ridges above 7,000 feet. Mean monthly temperatures recorded at Grand Junction range from 26.6 <br />to 78.7°F, and mean annual temperature is estimated at 52.7°F. <br />Land Use <br />Land use within the permit and adjacent area is grazing and wildlife habitat. Grazing is generally <br />confined to the lower -lying canyon bottom lands. The upland area consists of steep slopes and <br />rugged topography and is primarily used by wildlife. Some irrigated agriculture is practiced in the <br />East Salt Creek Valley, which is adjacent to the permit area. <br />5 <br />