HYDRO26156

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 6/28/1993
• Doc Name: WATER QUALITY SAMPLING AT ROADSIDE C-81-041 AND DESERADO MINES C-81-018
• From: DMG
• To: ERICA CROSBY
• Permit Index Doc Type: DMG SAMPLING
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman 51.. Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: [phone]
FA7(: 13031 832-8106
TO: Erica Crosby
FROM: Janet Binns
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Roy Romer
Gnverna
Michael B. Lonq
Drvisian Director
RE: Water Quality Sampling at Roadside (C-81-041) and Deserado Mines
(C-81-018)
During Steve Wathen's May inspection of Roadside and Deserado mines, I requested that
he sample the mine water discharges at both mines. This request was a direct result of
Shawn Smith's trepidation about the discharges at each mine.
Roadside: Sample was taken at NPDES point 002. This discharge point began
discharging in December 1992. Water from this point is groundwater
encountered during current mining of the Roadside mine. It is directed to the
old underground workings of the North Decline area. Here it settles as the
old workings act as an underground sump. The discharge line essentially
siphons the water from the old workings directly into the Colorado River.
The justification for sampling now is historically when Roadside discharged
mine water from old workings that had been sitting for awhile, their TDS
values were quite high. Over time we saw a decrease in the TDS values as
the older water had been discharged and the water being discharged had been
retained a shorter time.
Larry Reschke took a full suite sample in December approximately when the
initial discharge occurred. This should be included in his 1993 Water year
AHR (March 1994 submittal). I do believe he also sent me a copy of his
results which I filed in the water sampling tab of the file drawer.
Roadside's discharge has consistently been exceeding their TDS limits for
their NPDES permit. Powderhorn has submitted a salinity study report to [he
Health Department, and we received a copy as well. 1 highlighted in blue the
parameters I felt were of the highest concern. No action is necessary at this
time but, we need to keep an eye on their salinity levels and see if they are
indeed decreasing. If not we may need to revisit this issue.
For a frame of reference most crop plants are damaged by SAR values
greater than 15. An SAR of 30 if considered very high....