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ERMR currently conducts water level and water quality monitoring at 9 groundwater hydrologic <br /> monitoring wells (GW-N50 through GW-N58). ERMR also monitors ground water at the New <br /> Horizon Mine (C-1981-008),which is 0.8 miles south of NHN and is operated by ERMR. <br /> Springs and Seeps <br /> Three springs were defined within and in close proximity to the southern part of the NHN permit <br /> area by Peabody at the old Nucla Mine (see Map 2.04.7-1). These three spoil springs, identified <br /> as SS#1, SS#2 and SS#3, were monitored from 1983 through 1987. The water quality and flow <br /> data are contained in Appendix 2.04.7-2. These springs are totally dependent on ditch irrigation <br /> and would not exist without it. According to ERMR, these spoil springs are still flowing. There <br /> are no naturally occurring springs within the NHN permit boundary. <br /> Surface Water-Sections 2.04.5 and 2.04.7 of the permit <br /> The permit area of the NHN is divided north-south by the 2nd Park Lateral of the CCC Ditch, <br /> which runs east-west across the natural drainage divide in the central portion of the permit area. <br /> Within the permit area, there are two unnamed perennial draws, referred to as Meehan, and <br /> Nygren Draws. Meehan Draw is in the northern portion of the permit area, and Nygren Draw is <br /> in the southern portion. Meehan Draw flows to the west, converges with another unnamed draw <br /> to the northwest of the permit area, and then flow north via an unnamed draw to Coal Creek <br /> Canyon. Nygren Draw crosses the southeastern corner of the permit area, draining southward to <br /> Tuttle Draw. Coal Creek Canyon and Tuttle Draw, are both perennial, and flow west and south <br /> into the San Miguel River, which then flows north-northwest to the Dolores River. The Dolores <br /> River ultimately flows to the Colorado River. The permit area is roughly 4.5 miles upstream of <br /> the San Miguel River via Coal Creek Canyon, and 2 miles upstream of the San Miguel River on <br /> Tuttle Draw. <br /> Peak flows for the draws within the permit area are 2.65 cfs in Meehan Draw, and 1.5 cfs in <br /> Nygren Draw. Average flows are 0.55 cfs for Meehan Draw and 0.3 cfs for Nygren Draw. <br /> Flows to these draws are primarily due to seepage and subsurface flow from irrigation water, <br /> with peak flows being attributed to thunderstorm activity. <br /> Tuttle Draw averages 2.0 cfs, with peak flows of 9.35 cfs. Coal Creek Canyon averages 0.9 cfs. <br /> Peak flows on Tuttle Draw and Coal Creek Canyon are primarily in response to irrigation return <br /> flows during the latter part of irrigation season. <br /> The San Miguel River, with a drainage area of 1,080 square miles, derives the majority of its <br /> flow from snowmelt runoff. Mean flow at Naturita for water years 1995-2009 is 247 cfs. The <br /> USGS station at Uravan has a mean flow of 358 cfs for water years 1954-2011. At Nucla, the <br /> mean is 246 cfs for water years 1995-2011. During irrigation season, roughly mid-April to early <br /> October,the CCC Ditch diverts approximately 100 cfs from the San Miguel River just upstream <br /> of the town of Naturita, so lower flows are experienced during the latter part of the irrigation <br /> season. The ditch is used primarily for flood irrigation of the Tabeguache plateau area, which <br /> 11 <br />