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<br />Another component of ground c/ater flow into the mine <br />will be through fractures connecting the mine working to <br />the bedrock-alluvium contact. The greatest measured inflows <br />into coal mines in the adjacent Nortli Fork of t}ie Gunnison <br />coal field was observed to be from fracture and fault <br />systems under perennial and ephemeral streams. Given <br />the similar geology and the proximity to the Nortli of the <br />Gunnison mining area, such condition may be expected at <br />the Red Canyon lit and lit Mines. Tlie fracture systems <br />beneath Ward and Williams Creek may contribute greater <br />ground water inflows to the mine than through the coal <br />seam. <br />Pfining activities beneath the glacial-alluvial aquifer <br />may introduce increased inflows. The mining activities <br />may induce mine inflows through opening existing fractures <br />or through fractures developed from subsidence over the <br />mine working. Mine inflows may be induced directly from <br />the alluvium to the mine or indirectly from the alluvium <br />through overlying strata to the mine .through these <br />fractures. <br />The sum of mine inflows will be a sum of all of the above <br />mentioned types of inflows. The sum total mine inflows <br />may impact the flows in irrigation system and flows in <br />Ward and Williams Creeks Chrough ground water depletion. <br />The depletion oI irrigation systun may reduce flows and <br />subirrigation used to irrigate crops (especially apple <br />orchards). The flows in Ward and Williams Creeks may be <br />depleted, since as the applicant states on page 44 that <br />the creeks arc the primary source of recharge For the <br />glacial-alluvial aquifer and since the galc~ial-alluvial <br />aquifer is very permeable. <br />The following concerns arise given the aforementioned <br />observations and statements within the permit application: <br />F• n <br />A. What is the impacts of the mines on irrigated and <br />subirrigated farm lands above and below the permit area? <br />B. What is the impacts of the mines on surface and ground <br />water rights holders located along Ward and Williams Creeks? <br />qae <br />C. What is the impacts of mine discharges on water quality <br />leaving the mine site and use by downstream irrigators? <br />D. Does Grand Pfesa Coal Company have enough water rights <br />to augment losses L'o senior water rights holders? <br />