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Gold Hill Mill DMO <br />September 2022 B-6 <br /> <br />facility. Almost all of the ground in question has been disturbed for over 50 years. The maps in <br />Exhibit E show drainage patterns around the mill at different stages in operation. <br /> Groundwater Resources <br />Groundwater present in the Gold Hill area of Boulder County is typified by fracture zone , joint, and <br />void occurrences. The granite/granodiorite is essentially impermeable. Due to the crystalline <br />nature of the Boulder Creek granite, groundwater is found only in bedrock areas where the granite <br />has been fractured. Generally, the openings of these fractures, joints, and faults decrease in size <br />with increasing depth, and the probability of encountering significant water bearing zones is greatly <br />reduced at depths generally in excess of 300 feet. Typical wells in the area show static water <br />levels in the granite well below the surface (80’+) and low yields (<10 gpm) from pumping. This is <br />to be expected with wells in the granite system. Nearby wells are shown on Map E-1. <br />The crystalline bedrock has a very limited storage capacity, and most of the water that is received <br />through precipitation is returned to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. Soil depth is low <br />outside of channel bottoms such as Lick Skillet Gulch, preventing much infiltration in the mill area. <br />The groundwater that is present within the Boulder Creek granite tends to migrate downward and <br />laterally through a northeast to southwest trending fracture system towards the general area north <br />of Akins (Lick Skillet) Gulch. The majority of area wells are located hundreds of feet below the mill <br />area near the residences of Gold Hill, CO to the west and their depths to static water are roughly <br />100 feet below ground level. <br />Groundwater monitoring has taken place downhill from the mill area to the south. The results of <br />this monitoring can be found in Appendix B-2 <br />4. Wildlife Habitat and Species <br />No rare, threatened, or endangered wildlife species have been identified in the surrounding area. <br />The major wildlife habitat in the general area is that of a coniferous forest wildlife habitat. The most <br />common mammalian species that can be observed in the area are mule deer, cottontail rabbits, <br />squirrels, and chipmunks. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, black bear, mountain lions, and bobcats are <br />also known to inhabit the Gold Hill area. The occurrence of these species is generally year-round, <br />with some seasonal migration of mule deer down from the mountainous areas during periods of <br />heavy snowfall accumulation. No species migration corridor has been identified through the <br />affected area. Lists of the mammal and bird species that have been identified in the Gold Hill area <br />were included in the previously submitted Cash and Who Do Mine Permit Application No. M- <br />1983-141, which was approved by the Mined Land Reclamation Board on September 26, 1985. <br />The general effect of the proposed operations on the existing wildlife in the area is not expected to be <br />significant or permanent. The coniferous forest wildlife habitat is widespread and extensive throughout <br />the general area, and none of the wildlife presently inhabiting the areas where the Pump Station, Gold <br />Hill Mill Pipeline, and Times-Wynona Mine portal will be located are expected to suffer a permanent <br />loss of food or habitat. All Gold Mill Hill facilities have been in place since at least the 1970s.No new