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LORENCITO CANYON MINE AQUATIC TECHNICAL REPORT SECTION 1 -INTRODUCTION Rule 2.04.11 of the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board requires aquatic surveys to be conducted to facilitate development of a wildlife protection and enhancement plan for the proposed mine. The analysis described in this report was conducted to provide a description of the existing conditions for aquatic resources within the proposed permit area and waters outside of the permit area that could potentially be affected by the proposed mine. The analysis area for the aquatic resources was determined to be waters within the proposed permit area and the potentially affected portions of the Purgatoire River (including a control station upstream of potential influence). Refer to the surface water resources map (Map 2.04.7-1) for the analysis area and sampling station locations. SECTION 2.0 -METHODOLOGY • Information on the aquatics resource was acquired from three primary sources. First, information was obtained from resource management agencies. This information involved the status, occurrence and use of habitats for fish within the permit area. The second source of information was published and unpublished literature that was used to corroborate and supplement information provided by the agencies. General literature for the fish species under consideration also was reviewed. The third source of information was the field data collection conducted by Greystone during the summer and fall of 1996 specifically for the proposed mine. Five stream and two pond stations were sampled for fish, macroinvertebrates, and periphyton. Lorencito Canyon was the only stream sampled within the permit area because it was the only drainage with significant perennial reaches. Two stations were selected for sampling; one within potential disturbance from the proposed surface mine (LC-1) and the other upstream of any potential influence from surface mining (LC-4). Other drainages had springs, but were not sampled because of the lack of aquatic habitat. The other major drainage in the permit area, Cow Canyon, was dry and, as a result, two permanent stock ponds (PCWC-2 and PCWC-4) were sampled to represent aquatic life in this drainage. Additionally, the Purgatoire River (outside of the permit azea) was sampled above potential influence (PRGTY-1), downstream of the South Fork Purgatoire River (PRGTY-la), and downstream of its confluence with Lorencito Canyon (PRGTY-2). L~ aquauc.475/Apnl 26, 199'7 1 (revised 4/24/97)