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<br />-2- <br />important to note, that in both areas, evaluation of changes <br />~~~,.~ting from anticipated rnining•will be primarily related to short term <br />effects on water quality. HoLaever, an atte~r~pt will be made to project <br />long term effects. <br />APPROACH: Water quality data on dissolved constituents have been <br />collected fur the major and minor tributaries of the southern valley area <br />of the Yampa basin (Maura, 1982). Analysis of existing water quality <br />data has been done (Turk and Parker, 1982). These data and analyses will <br />be used to modify anu apply the Tongue River Dissolved Solids Model <br />(Woods, 1981) for the Trout Creek drainage and a reach of the Yampa <br />River. Data from mine plans for existing mines and gaging stations will <br />be used for calibration of the ruodel. Observed data fur several <br />calibration nodes in the model will have to be estimated by regression <br />techniques from data collection in the surrounding area. <br />Hfter calibration, additional effects resulting from anticipated mininy <br />will be introduced into the model as point sources. Mininy effects will <br />be as identified in the mine plans or other projections as provided by <br />the Division of I4ined Land Reclamation. Comparison of tkre model with and <br />without these point sources will be made. <br />Publications describing the yround water resources in the area will be <br />reviewed and the results of yround water solute transport modeling <br />(lJarner and Dale, 1982) will be evaluated to provide a qualitative <br />description of the probable impacts of mine dewatering and solute <br />transport on the bedrock and alluvial aquifers near the Trout Creek <br />drianage. <br />For the Ury Creek drainage, a statistical analysis of flow and total <br />dissolved solids will be made for tributaries of Dry Creek. By mass <br />balance equations, these estimates will be routed throuyli the Dry Creek <br />mainstream. Changes in the total dissolved solids for tributaries with <br />mining will be estimated by using observed changes in water quality <br />upstream and downstream of mining in nearby drainages. These changes <br />will be reflected as a point source in the stream system. These <br />estimates in the stream system with and without anticipated mining will <br />be compared. <br />For the Yampa River, a statistical analysis of flour and total dissolved <br />solids will be made. Changes in the total dissolved solids concentration <br />and load will be estimated by using observed changes in water quality in <br />nearby drainges. By mass balance equations, these estimates will be <br />routed through a reach of the Yampa River from Trout Creek to a point <br />below the confluence with Dry Creek. These estimates in the stream <br />system with and without anticipated mining will be compared. <br />REPORTS: A draft of an interpretive report will be prepared for <br />colleague review by April 1, 1983. The report will be approved for <br />review 6y June 1, 1983, and subsequently published as a USGS <br />Water-Resources Investigations. <br />/ep <br />~~orfi i~ [on(~de-nfi a~( - <br />Doc. No. 930 <br />