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West Elk Mine <br /> <br /> <br />2.04-117 Rev. 08/94- TR71, 06/95- PR06, 03/06- PR10;05/22- MR462 <br />The May-September precipitation is generally eight inches near the study area. It rises to 10 inches <br />in the Chain Mountains and 12 inches atop Mount Gunnison. It rises to 30 inches in the Lennox <br />Mesa-Lion Mesa vicinity and the Chain Mountains, and to 40 inches atop Mount Gunnison and <br />Coal Mountain (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1956). <br /> <br />Precipitation patterns are not obvious for the area. Precipitation has been lowest between May and <br />November, especially between June and October; yet considerable precipitation has fallen during <br />each of these months in one year or another. All months but November have received more than <br />two inches at least in some years. Precipitation during April and June was most variable; the range <br />between the maximum and minimum precipitation values spans 4.08 and 4.12 inches, respectively. <br />January, August, and October varied more than 3.5 inches between the maximum and minimum <br />values (U.S. Department of Commence, N.O.A.A. Environmental Data Service). See Exhibit 23 <br />for specific information on precipitation at the area monitoring sites. <br /> <br /> <br /> Paonia Stations <br /> <br />Precipitation values for the Paonia Stations are more complete than those for Wilcox Ranch <br />(McKee, 1975). Monthly precipitation values, based on 51-53 years of data up to 1957 from the <br />Paonia 3 SE station, are summarized graphically in Exhibit 23. An average of 15.75 inches of <br />precipitation was received yearly there. <br /> <br />Highest average precipitation occurred in April (1.66 inches), and lowest in June (0.73 inches). The <br />maximum monthly precipitation fell in March (6.40 inches). January received 4.38 inches in one <br />year. February, April, May, June, August, September, October, and November all have received <br />more than 3.3 inches of precipitation. The maximum precipitation recorded for July (1.97 inches) <br />was noticeably lower than the next lowest recorded maximum (2.88 inches in December). <br /> <br />The minimum monthly precipitation fell during May, June, September, and October (all 0.00 <br />inches). March (0.06 inches), November (0.08 inches), and December (0.09 inches) may also <br />receive relatively low amounts of precipitation. April has always had a minimum precipitation <br />greater than that of any other month. No clear pattern of precipitation distribution emerged for this <br />station either. <br /> <br />The precipitation summary for the Paonia station is based on data from 15-16 years before and <br />including 1972 (McKee, 1975). Data for this period are also summarized graphically in Exhibit 23. <br />Maximum monthly precipitation fell in October (3.43 inches), but February (3.26 inches), April <br />(3.11 inches), June (3.30 inches), September (3.37 inches), and December (3.24 inches) all received <br />more than three inches at least once. The most precipitation recorded for May (1.75 inches) was <br />noticeably lower than the next lowest value which was 2.34 inches in July. <br /> <br />The minimum monthly precipitation fell during October (0.00 inches). However, February (0.08 <br />inches), June (0.06 inches), and July (0.05 inches) received quite low amounts also. December has <br />never received as little precipitation as other months. <br /> <br />February, June, September, and October are the most variable in the amounts of precipitation they