HYDRO31599

• Permit No: M1999002
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 2/9/2000
• Doc Name: FINAL AREA PERMIT VIC ISSUED TO AM SODA P 83-164
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

December 23, /999 • • Puge /6
3.0 SURFACE WATER MONITORING LOCATIONS AND PROCESS
The surface water monitoring plan includes monitoring the discharge and water quality of
Piceance Creek and springs and seeps (if any) at the Piceance Site, and Parachute Creek at the
t Parachute (lower plant) Site. There are no other known sources of surface water at the Piceance
Site or Parachute Site except ephemeral streams. Precipitation will also be gauged at the Piceance
' Site since run-off and infiltration contribute to surface water and groundwater, respectively.
Sampling procedures will follow the requirements listed in Appendix C.
' 3.1 Piceance Creek Monitoring
Piceance Creek monitoring will include discharge and water quality monitoring, a tracer
dilution study, and crest stage monitoring. Piceance Creek will be monitored at two existing
USGS stream gauging stations. One of the gauging stations is located downstream of Ryan Gulch
' and upstream of the Piceance Site. The other gauging station is located on Piceance Creek near
the confluence with the White River, downstream of the site.
' The baseline discharge and water quality of Piceance Creek, in the vicinity of the site, has
been established by the USGS. The surface water stations will be sampled four times per year
' using the current USGS water quality schedule, during both the baseline period and the operations
period. Discharge will be monitored continuously during these quarterly monitoring events.
t Piceance Creek samples will be analyzed for the parameters listed in Table 5. The metals and
nutrients listed in Table 5 will be analyzed for the dissolved portion for compatibility with the
' existing database for Piceance Creek. The discharge and water quality samples will be collected
by the USGS, according to their established procedures.
t A tracer dilution study will be conducted along the section of Piceance Creek that borders
the Piceance Site. The USGS will conduct the study. The tracer dilution study is an investigation
' of groundwater inputs and the associated water quality along Piceance Creek. This information
would provide baseline data on ditl'use inputs to Piceance Creek. The data would be collected at
' base stream flow. In part, the purpose of the study is to evaluate whether the American Soda
alluvial monitoring wells are properly located.
' Crest stage monitoring stations will be installed by the USGS at Piceance Creek adjacent
' to the upstream and downstream monitoring wells. The crest stage gages will be tied into the
datum of the alluvial wells, and will provide information on water levels in the observation wells
' and peak stream flow in Piceance Creek.
~ , Agapito Associates, Inc,