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SURFACE WATER SUITABILITY <br />This section discusses the suitability, present use and potential use of surface water monitored at <br />stream sites at the New Horizon 2 mining area. The suitability of surface water is discussed by <br />comparing historical water quality data for each site with the most stringent state or federal <br />standards established for: 1) drinking water; 2) agricultural water; and 3) livestock drinking water. <br />Also, surface water is discussed in relation to receiving stream standards applicable to the San <br />Miguel River as adopted by the Colorado Department of Health (CDOH, 1983 revised, 1986). <br />Surface water use, both present and potential, is described in relation to each water standard <br />category. <br />Surface water at all stream sites, except SW-N104, SW-N105, and SW-N106, was found to be <br />unsuitable for drinking water because of sulfate and manganese excedences. Lead and iron <br />standards were exceeded at four of the sites, while pH and nitrogen-ammonia (NH,) were <br />exceeded at three and one stream monitoring site, respectively. Interestingly, the three sites <br />located on the West Lateral irrigation ditch all fell within the drinking water standards. Historically <br />and presently, irrigation waterdelivered by the West Lateral has been and currently is used by local <br />residents as a source of drinking water. Sulfate and manganese are commonly exceeded at all <br />other stream sites established in tributaries of and along both Calamity and Tuttle Draws. <br />With regard to the agricultural standards, only manganese was exceeded at all surface water <br />monitoring sites, with the exception of the West Lateral irrigation ditch sites (SW-N104, SW-N105, <br />SW-N106). Five sites have had exceedences of the pH standard and two sites have had <br />exceedences of boron. <br />Manganese was exceeded commonly in both Tuttle and Calamity Draws, as well as at sites located <br />along tributaries to each drainage (SW-N6, SW-N7, NPDES 001 and 006, and SW-N102). <br />Based on a classification of salinity hazard for arid and semi-arid areas (National Academy of <br />Sciences, 1972), surface water in Calamity and Tuttle Draws all fall within the category of waterthat <br />can be used for tolerant plants on permeable soils with careful management practices (TDS from <br />(Revised 25 Jul 2002) 2.04.7-36 <br />