Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Paae 3-58 Environmental Analysis February 2000 <br />Bowie reports perched water-bearing sandstone zones between the Rollins Sandstone and C <br />coal seam and above the D coal seam (Bowie, 1998). The D coal seam is apparently saturated <br />on the west side of Hubbard Creek as indicated by numerous springs and seeps. <br />Exploration drilling and mining activity at the Oxbow Mine have indicated perched groundwater <br />zones below the E coal seam, in the D coal seam below its outcrop/subcrop with Elk Creek, and <br />in the clastic sequence overlying the C and B coal seams (Oxbow, ~i999). <br />Numerous springs and seeps issue from sandstone beds in the upper Mesa Verde Formation in <br />the proposed Iron Point and Elk Creek Coal Lease tracts and Iron Point Exploration License <br />area. Most of these springs are reported to be perennial (personal communication with J. <br />Stover of Stover & Associates and Dan Hudson of Hotchkiss Ranches). <br />Spring flows range from less than 1 gpm to about 25 gpm with flow decreasing during dry <br />seasons. Direct precipitation and snowmelt infiltration recharge these deposits. Seepage from <br />local streams provides little recharge due the steep stream gradients and gaining character in <br />the upper drainages where these units outcrop. <br />Groundwater is unconfined near outcrop and semi-confined to confined in deeper subsurface <br />strata. Groundwater flow direction follows the local topography near drainages and flows to the <br />northeast (regional geologic dip of about 5 degrees) in other areas. <br />A summary of the spring and seep data is presented in Table 3.6-1, Spring and Seep Summary <br />- Iron Point Coal Lease Tract and Exploration License Area, and Table 3.6-2, Spring, Seep and <br />Pond Summary -Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract. Locations are shown on Figure 19, Groundwater <br />Hydrology. <br />The Rollins Sandstone member in the proposed coal lease tracts and adjacent areas is <br />unsaturated near the outcrops and becomes saturated down dip to the northeast. The low <br />primary permeability and storage of this unit preclude it as being a sign~pnt water-bearing <br />unit. No known water supply wells in the area are developed in the Rollins Sandstone. Drilling <br />and monitoring well data indicates that the Rollins Sandstone is confined with a groundwater <br />flow gradient to the northeast, following the geologic dip of the strata. Infiltration from local <br />drainages crossing outcrops recharges this unit. <br />Current.and historic mining in the area have encountered groundwater in the coal seams and <br />adjacent strata. See Figure 3, Historic Coal Mines and Federal Coal Lease Locations, for <br />current and historic mine locations. The Bowie No. 2 Mine is developed in the D seam and <br />reports inflows of less than 1 gpm (Bowie, 1998). The D seam in this area is above <br />outcrop/subcrop with local streams. <br />The Sanborn Creek Mine is developed in the B and C seams with average inflows of 100 gpm <br />and peak flows of 250 gpm near fractured zones. This mine is situated below the <br />outcrop/subcrop of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br />The Oliver Mine was developed in the D seam mostly above the outcrop/subcrop with Elk <br />Creek. Historic information indicates mostly dry conditions with inflows ranging from 0 to 6 gpm <br />(Oxbow, 1999). <br />Seeps and springs issue from coal seam outcrops, particularly on the north and east sides of <br />local drainages. The most notable site is located in middle Hubbard Creek drainage where <br />springs and seeps from the D seam outcrops create a marshy area. <br />Final Environmental Impact Statement <br />