2019-10-25_PERMIT FILE - C2010089

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With the completion of the Colorado Cooperative Company's main irrigation ditch in about 1905, most of the surface deposits (soils) have been intensively modified by both cultivation and irrigation water. The 2nd Park Lateral irrigation ditch runs along a ridge line that is the stream divide between Tuttle Draw and Coal Canyon, (see Map 2.04.7-1). The NHN permit area consists of 328.88 acres. About 130 acres of the permit area located to the south of the 2nd Park Lateral drains into Tuttle Draw. The 199 acres of the permit north of the 2nd Park Lateral drains into tributaries of Coal Creek Canyon. The total drainage basin of Tuttle Draw is about 16 square miles. The total drainage basin of Coal Canyon is significantly larger; however, that portion of the Coal Canyon basin affected by the permit area is relatively small. This area is mostly drained by Meehan Draw (see Map 2.04.7- 1) and including the watershed within the permit area (199 acres) is only about 353 acres. The permit area and upstream watershed is mostly composed of irrigated crop (hay) and pastures with small "islands " of un-irrigated rangeland that are located above ditch banks or otherwise isolated from the irrigation system. The area south of the 2nd Park Lateral (about 117 acres) drains through the area of old Peabody Nucla Mine, portions of which have been reclaimed (post SMCRA). The main drainage (see Map 2.04.7-1, Nygren Draw) to the south into Tuttle Draw has a gradient of about 151 ft/mi. To the south, the maximum topographic relief located along the old Peabody Nucla Mine reclaimed high-wall is about 40 ft. To the north of the 2nd Park Lateral, Meehan Draw has a gradient across the permit area of 158 ft/mi. with a maximum topographic relief of about 45 ft. South of the 2nd Park ditch, the maximum topographic elevation is about 5775 ft msl and the minimum is about 5680 ft msl. North of the ditch the highest elevation is about 5790 msl and the lowest elevation is 5665 ft msl. Surface Water Monitoring NHN added 21 new surface water monitoring stations in the permit area to supplement existing baseline data. Map 2.04.7-1 show the locations of the new stations (numbered SW-N200 through SW-N218 and SW-N1 and SW-N3) as well as the locations of the surface water stations that were monitored by Peabody, that have been discontinued. Baseline monitoring of the new stations began in October 2008 consisting of monthly instantaneous flow measurements and field parameters (pH, water temperature, and conductivity), when the sites had flow and collecting bi-monthly water quality samples, when sites had flow. Surface water monitoring station SW-N206 was destroyed when the County replaced the culvert (site of station) under 26.50 Road in 2009. Currently, of the 21 surface water monitoring stations referenced above, 13 are active and 8 are abandoned, as indicated on Map 2.04.7-1. The surface water monitoring data is contained in Appendix 2.04.7-2 of this permit application. Coal Canyon (aka Coal Creek Canyon and Coal Creek) is located to the north and west of the permit area (see Map 2.04.5-1). In the upper reaches it is dry except during periods of snow melt run off and heavy precipitation events. Immediately north of the terminus of the 2nd Park Lateral Section 2.04.7 Page 20 August 2019 (TR-21)