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7 ~a LICK CREEK HYORULOGY WECC has measured Lick Creek flows since 1977. The total drainage basin 1 area is 2.25 square miles with 1.76 square miles above the gage. The proposed mine boundary encompasses 1.37 square miles of the Lick Creek _ basin. Records for Lick Creek flow demonstrates a drainage pattern similar to that of Dry Fork with high early run-off. Over half of the annual run-off occurs in May. The average annual unit run-off is approximately 230 AF/square ~ miles. Lick Creek encompasses about 5 percent of the Minnesota Creek basin above the gage while contributing about 2 percent of the flow. J ESTIMATING DEPLETIONS ,~ When and if stream depletions occur from retreat mining operations at the j Mt. Gunnison Mine, all injury to vested water rights must be mitigated. Injury will occur if any lawfull calling water right does not receive water 1 because of the effect of retreat mining operations. The extent of this injury can be defined as the difference between expected stream flow and the actual stream flow. It is proposed that stream depletions be so defined by comparing actual flows in Dry Fork and Lick Creek in the future with the expected flow in those creeks determined on the basis of historic flow correlations between Minnesota Creek and the affected basins. J For this purpose, the stream flow records for lower Dry Fork and Lick Creek (1977-1983) were used to determine average monthly flows for each stream. The data for irry Fork was adjusted for Monument Reservoir storage and release, and Deep Creek ditch diversions. Records for Monument Reservoir releases and Deep Creek diversions were obtained from State Engineer's Office records. Some adjustments were made to the Monument Reservoir ~ records to reflect a more realistic operation of the reservoir than what the • official records show. Adjustments were also made to account for winter l flows in months v~hen frozen streams resulted in no records. l