1997-09-16_HYDROLOGY - M1984049

• Permit No: M1984049
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 9/16/1997
• Doc Name: JUNE 1997 WATER SAMPLES HOWARDSVILLE MILL PN M-84-049
• From: DMG
• To: CALCO INC
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• 0 III IIIIIIII
STATE OF COLOMDO
DIVISION Of MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
of
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Bt., Room 215 �`gL
Denver,Colorado 80203 IIIy
' Phone [phone]:
FAX:[phone] DENVER OFFICE
DEPARTMEIVr OF
September 16, 1997 PUBLIC FILE COPY NATURAL
RESOURCES
FILE: Al yfbe -1-1
Jerry Sandell SITE. Roy Romer
CALCO, Inc. i cwernor
James S.Lochhead
P.O. BOX 1044 /?i ce/17sniTCr n E.ecuuoe Director
Salida, CO 81201 -9 Michael8.Long
Division Director
RE: June 1997 Water Samples, Howardsville Mill, Permit No. M-84-049.
Dear Mr. Sandell:
On 8/21/97, DMG received the water analysis report completed by Root & Norton
Laboratories, Inc., report date 3/15197, of water samples taken from Howardsville Mill
during the second quarter of 1997. Water analysis report indicates that six surface water
samples were taken on 6/15/97, and three groundwater samples were taken on 6/24/97.
Analysis of surface water samples, taken from the Animas River, Upland Diversion Ditch,
and drainage from pre-law tailings areas were not accompanied by flow data. Flow data
is a field measurement of the quantity of water contained within the channel and passing
the sample location at the time of sampling. Flow data is recorded as a rate of flow and
is typically measured as cubic feet per second (cfs) or gallons per minute (gpm). Flow
data is necessary for all surface samples and must be measured at the time of sampling.
DMG requires that water analysis reports include flow data for all surface samples taken
in the future.
Analysis report results indicate that Animas River samples were grab samples rather than
depth and width integrated. Depth and width integrated samples are a standard sampling
procedure, whereby the entire cross section and elevations of the channel flow are
represented within a composite sample. Depth and width integrated samples are
necessary because different elements may concentrate at various locations within the
channel flow. Grab samples, taken from a single location along the channel bank, do not
ensure accurate representation of channel flow. Grab samples may be disproportionately
influenced by upstream contributions which have not mixed with channel flow. Grab
samples may also completely miss upstream contributions which have not mixed with
channel flow.
Animas River channel receives significant quantities of water between the upstream (S3)
and downstream (S6) sample locations. Animas River flow is augmented, between S3
and S6, along the west bank by drainage from the talus slopes and Independence Mine,
and along the east bank by drainage from permit area and pre-law tailings disposal areas.