Laserfiche WebLink
SUPPORTING DATA AND ANALYSES <br />INTRODUCTION <br />~ The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission (CWQCC) has proposed <br />stream use classifications and water quality standards for the main <br />stem of East Middle Fork of Parachute Creek, Middle Fork and the Middle <br />Fork tributaries under Segment 11. The proposed use classifications <br />and associated proposed water quality standards are presented in Table <br />1.1. <br />' These streams are located in the oil shale county of western <br />Colorado. The general drainage basin is illustrated in Figure 1.1. <br />Exxon Company USA owns land that is drained by Middle Fork, Davis Gulch <br />and East Middle Fork. Property associated with Exxon's oil shale <br />project are illustrated in Figure 1.1. <br />" The purpose of this report is to describe the historic and exist- <br />ing water quality, and the status of aquatic life communities in the <br />stream segments of interest and recommend stream use classifications <br />and water quality standards. The primary focus of this report is <br />' Middle Fork of Parachute Creek, Davis Gulch and East Middle Fork. <br />MIDDLE FORK <br />Middle Fork is a main stem tributary of Parachute Creek. The <br />stream is highlighted on Figure 1.2. The Middle Fork valley is approx- <br />imately 4.5 miles long, V-shaped, and very narrow. The walls of the <br />valley are talus slopes topped by perpendicular cliffs that reach from <br />800 to 1000 feet above the creek bed. Primary site of the Colony <br />mining operation is to be located on the mine bench in the central <br />portion of the Middle Fotk drainage. Offices, laboratories, staging <br />areas and other support facilities occupy the lower portions of the <br />drainage. Water storage reservoirs and sediment ponds occupy the upper <br />areas of the drainage. The current setting of the drainage is charac- <br />teristic of a mining industrial complex as can be seen in Figures 1.3 <br />1 <br />