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recharge areas have limited areal extent due to the steep dips of outcrops <br /> and the narrowness of the stream valleys; consequently, little recharge <br /> occurs. Some recharge to the continuous units and much of the recharge <br /> to the more discontinuous, lenticular units will come directly from the <br /> percolation of snowmelt and precipitation downward through sandstone <br /> lens and along fractures. The same is true in the Jumbo Mountain area. <br /> Of 112 exploration drill holes at the West Elk Mine that were drilled <br /> prior to the mine opening, only three of the holes produced water from <br /> the F-seam at a production rate of 3 gpm or less. Three other holes in the <br /> Barren Member had rates of about 0.75 gpm. <br /> The Mesaverde Formation is cut by fractures and faults that extend <br /> vertically to the surface. The faults and fractures produce narrow bands <br /> of permeability and provide the primary ground water flow path in the <br /> areas. When faults and fractures are encountered in mines in the North <br /> Fork region, they generally produce mine inflows. The flow <br /> characteristics of each mine inflow associated with faults and fractures <br /> depend on the lateral extent and the proximity of the fault or fracture to a <br /> stream valley. All inflows from these sources are characterized by an <br /> initial surge of water which then either decreases or ceases completely <br /> with time. <br /> Locally, water flow through fractures probably occurs more rapidly, as <br /> suggested by the seasonal fluctuation in discharge rates of some springs <br /> in the mine plan area. Mine inflow studies conducted as recently as 1985 <br /> have shown that the primary source of inflows are from fractures in areas <br /> of low overburden. <br /> As previously described in this document, MCC encountered large <br /> inflows of water after mining through a fault/fracture system while <br /> conducting development mining in the B-seam in 1996 and early 1997. <br /> Significant mine inflows have not been experienced recently; as of the <br /> date of this findings document mine inflows have not satisfied the criteria <br /> for monitoring and sampling (discernable flows >5 gpm for>7 <br /> consecutive days) since water year 2011. <br /> Groundwater in the area can be expected to flow generally in a downdip <br /> (northward) direction, parallel to bedding, toward the deeper part of the <br /> Piceance Basin. Data from monitoring wells generally indicate downdip <br /> flow, although some closely spaced wells in the Barren Member have <br /> highly variable water levels. Some wells are dry, indicating no <br /> groundwater flow. Dry wells and variable water levels may result from <br /> areal variation in permeability. Generally, springs in the permit area <br /> seem to act independently of the bedrock water zones and appear to be <br /> surface features related to weathered and fractured bedrock. Springs tend <br /> to exhibit highly seasonal flow and discharge only during spring snow <br /> melt. Springs recharge and discharge in relatively small areas. <br /> 39 <br />