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TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM AmerAlia, Inc. October 19, 1999 Page g 4.1 Yellow Creek The Yellow Creek gaging station (#09306255) has an incomplete period of record from 1973 to 1982 and 1988 to present. Flow data indicates that Yellow Creek is perennial, but the magnitude of the flows suggest that during a year of ]ow precipitation, flow could become intermittent (Weeks et al., 1974). During the period of record, average daily discharge of Yellow Creek was 2.75 cfs with a maximum of 500 cfs and a minimum of zero. Most of the annual flow in Yellow Creek is sustained by ground water discharge. Weeks (et al., 1974) estimated that 80 percent on the total flow in this creek originated from ground water flow. During a project site inspection on September 8, 1999, the flow of Yellow Creek below the confluence of Stakes Springs Draw and Corral Gulch drainage was estimated as approximately 0.3 cfs. Flows increased to over 0.5 cfs about I mile downstream. It is believed that the stream gains in the reach feed by several springs, Sp-1 and Sp-2 (Figure 3). Yellow Creek water quality data is available from the USGS station, located at the mouth of the stream, near White River. Yellow Creek water has high mineral content, typical of streams in semi-arid environments. The water in lower Yellow Creek is of a sodium and bicarbonate type, with high concentrations of chloride (typically around 100 mg/1) (Zook and Sares, 1999). Water type for Yellow Creek is presented in a Piper Diagram in Appendix B. Stream pH is relatively high in Yellow Creek, with an average of 8.6 (Zook and Sares, 1999). The high pH in Yellow Creek is related to the geochemical controls of high alkalinity ground water that enters the stream channel in the lower reaches of Yellow Creek (Tobin, et al., 1985). Average TDS concentrations exceed agricultural water quality standards, and maximum concentrations of boron, cadmium, and fluoride exceed agricultural water quality standards. Electric conductivity, TDS and pH have stayed fairly constant in Yellow Creek since monitoring was started. However, some seasonal effects are apparent. Electric conductivity and TDS are lowest during the month of February. Graphs for long-term monitored data and monthly averages are contained in Appendix C. Electric conductivity, pH and TDS values are sometimes related to flows. In Yellow Creek a correlation between conductivity and TDS and flow is apparent (Appendix C). TDS and conductivity are higher for low flow rates. This may indicate that high electric conductivity spring water is dominant during low flow rates (Tobin, et al., 1985). 2ndFinalTahnical Mcmodoc 10/19/99 TRC HYDRO-GEO CONSULTANTS