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Water from the Trout Creek Sandstone is used to supply the Seneca II Mine facilities. <br />As the supply well is frequently pumped, reliable depth-to-water information is not <br />available from this site. The Trout Creek Sandstone water is a sodium sulfate type with <br />an average TDS concentration in the range of 900 mg/l. <br />The 70 feet of interbedded sandstone, siltstone, coal and shale act as a confining unit <br />which essentially precludes the vertical migration of water between the Trout Creek <br />Sandstone and the Wolf Creek Coal. Consequently no depletion or degradation of <br />water in this aquifer is anticipated as a result of mining operations at the Seneca II <br />Mine. <br />Wolf Creek Coal <br />The Wolf Creek Coal seam is capable of transmitting and storing small amounts of <br />water. Aquifer tests of the unit were performed at the Seneca II-W Mine site, about <br />5 miles west of Seneca II Mine, in 1980. These tests indicate that the Wolf Creek Coal <br />is a confined aquifer which transmits limited amounts of water. One well was pumped <br />at an average of 1.2 gallons per minute for about 3 '/z hours and produced no observable <br />drawdown at an observation we1120 feet away. Transmissivity values calculated for the <br />Wolf Creek Coal vary between 0.02 ftz per day (0.149 gallons per day per foot) for well <br />3 WC and 0.001 ftZ per day (0.007 gallons per day per foot) in the two wells tested. Due <br />to the low water yield and transmissivity values, the storativity value of the Wolf Creek <br />Coal is estimated to be about 1 X 10-5. Both transmissivity and storativity appeaz to be <br />quite low due to the highly lenticulaz and discontinuous nature of the Mesaverde Group. <br />It is thought that transmissivity and storativity values will be variable over large areas. <br />Two wells remain that are monitored for water level, S10-WC and S15-WC, both of <br />which are up-gradient of the mining operation. Water in both these wells retained a <br />relatively uniform level throughout the early years of mine life. S10-WC level varied <br />around 79 feet below ground surface (bgs). After 1989, the levels have dropped and <br />appeaz to have stabilized azound 83 feet bgs. S 15-WC levels varied around 80 feet bgs <br />until 1993, at which time levels have been erratic, ranging from 84 feet bgs to 108 feet <br />bgs. Wells S35-WC and S37-WC were used to monitor water levels until 1996, but <br />have since been abandoned. <br />Historic data show that water in the Wolf Creek Coal is a calcium sulfate type with an <br />average TDS of 745 mg/I. <br />Wadge Coal and Overburden <br />The Wadge Overburden is considered to be an aquifer in this area and, for purposes of <br />this discussion, is collectively grouped with the Wadge Coal aquifer. Four wells <br />monitor the Wadge Coal seam and overburden, and two of the wells are in hydraulic <br />communication with the Wadge Impoundment. Three wells remain in what is referred <br />18 <br />