|
<br />2.05-72 Rev. 11/96- PR07; 04/06-PR10; 12/14- TR136, 04/24 – TR153
<br />correlating the stream flows of Minnesota Creek at the Upper Minnesota Creek (USGS) gaging
<br />station located approximately six miles upstream from its confluence with sub-basins that could
<br />possibly be affected (Dry Fork and Lick Creek). A complete description of the streamflow
<br />correlation procedures is provided in the permit application as "Application for Approval of Plan for
<br />Augmentation Concerning the Application of Water Rights of Mountain Coal Company in
<br />Gunnison and Delta Counties" and "Engineering report, Water Augmentation Plan for Mountain
<br />Coal Company in Minnesota Creek Basin near Paonia," dated January 1985 (Exhibit 52).
<br />
<br />It is estimated that it might be some time before secondary recovery mining will take place south of
<br />the Minnesota Creek watershed divide. As a result, there is no need to operate and maintain the
<br />entire Minnesota Creek gaging station network until mining advances to a point where a watershed
<br />might be impacted. Rather, some of the stations have been shut down until the summer before
<br />mining impacts can be expected; at which time the stations will be reactivated. Mountain Coal
<br />Company has closed the Horse Creek Flume, the South Prong Flume and the Beaver Reservoir
<br />Flume. All facilities have been removed and the sites regraded and reseeded to prevent erosion.
<br />Should mining advance to the point where these basins might be impacted, Mountain Coal
<br />Company will install a new gaging station, or reinstall the old station, at least one monitoring season
<br />before any potential exists for the stream to be impacted by mining. In the event that conditions are
<br />such that the gage cannot be reinstalled at the same location, the site for the new gage will be
<br />reviewed with appropriate persons/agencies prior to installation.
<br />
<br />The following stations, because Mountain Coal Company needs the data to develop the streamflow
<br />correlations described in the augmentation plan, remain operational: Upper Minnesota Creek
<br />(USGS), Lower Minnesota Creek (USFS), Lower Dry Fork Flume, Lick Creek Flume and the
<br />Upper Dry Fork Flume. The Upper Dry Fork Flume was relocated to a location to better quantify
<br />the actual contributions of the Deep Creek Ditch to the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek basin. These
<br />stations are monitored as previously agreed with the State Engineer per the augmentation plan in
<br />Exhibit 52.
<br />
<br />Copies of all raw and reduced data from the gaging stations will be maintained on file at Mountain
<br />Coal Company's offices for public inspection during normal business hours. Annual reports for the
<br />stream gaging stations will be furnished to the CDMG in the Annual Hydrology Report. These
<br />reports will include monthly measurements of stream flows for each gaging station with maximum,
<br />minimum and mean flows reported.
<br />
<br />As a result of TR-54, water quality monitoring of surface stations in the Minnesota Creek drainage
<br />was reduced until mining progresses into that area. Seasonal measurements (three times per year to
<br />correspond to the start of spring runoff, the peak spring runoff, and the fall low flow) of flow, pH,
<br />conductivity, and temperature will be taken. For surface water sites with less than five years of
<br />monitoring data, annually, during the second sampling (except for the North Fork of the Gunnison
<br />River, which will be during the third sampling), a full-suite laboratory analysis of water solids
<br />(TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), calcium, magnesium, sodium, SAR, hardness, bicarbonate,
<br />chloride, nitrate/nitrite, phosphate (PO2-3 as P), sulfate, iron (total & dissolved), manganese (total &
<br />dissolved), aluminum (dissolved), arsenic (total recoverable), cadmium, copper, lead, mercury (total
<br />recoverable), molybdenum, selenium (total recoverable), boron, and zinc will be conducted. Once
<br />five years of data have been accumulated, the annual laboratory analysis will only include TDS,
|