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• Monitoring data are also presented in the Annual Hydrology Reports. Streamflow Monitoring In 1977, MCC installed a network of six continuous recording stream gaging stations to establish the baseline surface water hydrology for the permit and adjacent azeas of the West Ells Mine and to provide a method of assessing the impacts of mining during the life of the West Elk Mine. Five of these gaging stations are located within the Minnesota Creek drainage basin, on Horse Creek, Lick Creek, South Prong, Upper Dry Fork, and Lower Dry Fork. The sixth gaging station is located on Sylvester Gulch, a tributary of the North Fork, adjacent to the surface facilities. Data are also obtained from a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gage in the North Fork located in the river just upstream of the mouth of Sylvester Gulch. In addition to the original five gaging stations in the Minnesota Creek basin, MCC has installed and operates gaging stations on the main stem of Minnesota Creek below the Dry Fork (Minnesota Creek Lower Gage) and on Minnesota Creek just upstream of the confluence of Minnesota Creek and the Dry Fork (Minnesota Creek Upper Flume). The Minnesota Creek Lower gage was installed at the same location as a USGS gage that was operational from 1937 through 1947. The gage was built through a cooperative joint funding agreement between MCC and the USGS and became operational in water year 1986. This gage is a standazd USGS installation with a natural stream cross-section and stilling well. The Minnesota Creek Upper gage is a four-foot Parshall Flume (with the capability to accurately measure low flows) with concrete overflow channels to carry high spring runoff. The gage is located approximately 2,300 feet upstream from the confluence with Dry Fork. The locations of all surface water gaging stations can be found on Map 34. A gaging station was not established in Lone Pine Gulch because site visits indicated no evidence of flow in recent yeazs. Interviews with local residents have confirmed this observation. Additionally, in October 1977, a site visit coincided with a rather intense regional storm. While all of the six gaged watersheds in the coal lease azea were found to be flowing, no flow or evidence of flow was found in Lone Pine Gulch. Other visual observations of Lone Pine Gulch by MCC staff from 1977 to the present resulted in the same observation (lack of flow). For these reasons, a gaging station was determined to be unnecessary. Baseline data were obtained in Gribble Gulch. Due to the small, ephemeral nature of the flows from this drainage, a permanent gaging station was not constructed in this location. Instead, flows were measured at two locations with either a portable flume or a timing bucket. Crest stage gages will also be added in upper and lower Gribble Gulch. In 1999, the upper monitoring location was eliminated because there has been no flow in the upper reaches of Gribble Gulch. 2,04-81 Revised November 1004 PR70