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Unlike the sandstone above the coals to be mined on the property, <br />the Trout Creek Sandstone is believed to contain water in storage <br />because it occurs at an elevation beneath Goodspring Creek. <br />However, limited data are available to describe the characteristics <br />of the sandstone. Its recharge area is projected to be south of <br />the mine property, or in an area where the Trout Creek Sandstone is <br />above the elevation of Goodspring Creek and is exposed to the <br />surface. Recharge is also expected to occur south of the mine <br />property principally because annual precipitation increases at <br />higher elevations. The direction of groundwater flow in the Trout <br />Creek Sandstone is projected to be in a generally northeast <br />direction following the general geologic structure. The principal <br />discharge areas for the Trout Creek Sandstones are in the valleys <br />of Goodspring and Taylor Creeks where the sandstones subcrop in the <br />valley bottom. The Trout Creek Sandstone is removed by erosion in <br />this general area. As a result, all groundwater in the sandstone <br />is forced to the surface. ~ ~~~ vhrlce.YS <br />Further evidence of the lack of groundwater above the coals <br />currently being mined may be found by examining test hole data <br />records collected while the property was being explored. <br />Seventeen (17) observation wells were established to measure <br />fluctuations in water levels at the Colowyo site prior to mining. <br />Locations of these wells are shown on the Regional Hydrology Maps <br />(Map l0). Depth-to-water in these wells ranged from less than 20 <br />feet to more than 500 feet as shown in Table lA, Well Logs and <br />Water Level Measurements. Four (4) of the holes were augered to a <br />depth of 25 feet by the USGS. Three of the test holes were <br />completed in the floodplains of Goodspring, Taylor and Wilson <br />Creeks. The fourth test hole was completed near the west of the <br />ridge on the east side of the mine site. The Bureau of Reclamation <br />drilled two (2) core test holes to a depth of 200 feet; these were <br />completed as observation wells. W. R. Grace & Co. completed seven <br />(7) exploration core holes as observation wells. in addition to <br />these wells, the USGS drilled four (4) test holes in the valleys of <br />Streeter and Taylor Creeks. These holes were drilled to depths of <br />60 to 100 feet and none produced more than 5 gallons per minute <br />(gPm)• <br />• <br />2.04.7-5 <br />