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permit azea. A perched aquifer in one of these deposits has produced a spring in Section 22, <br />T9N, R78W, which has an average flow of less than two gpm. This spring is located outside <br />the area of proposed mine disturbance. <br />Alluvium is found in places along all of the draws draining the mine site, along the Canadian <br />River, and along the Illinois River adjacent to the loadout. The alluvium within the draws is <br />predominately composed of clay with isolated sand and gravel lenses. Wells have been <br />strategically placed to intersect these lenses. To date, the calcium bicarbonate water quality <br />does not appear to have been altered by the mine. There aze currently no wells along the <br />Canadian River alluvium east and northeast of the mine. <br />The alluvium along the Illinois River near the loadout is less than 25 feet thick. Underflow is <br />estimated at 1.5 acre-feet per day on material whose permeability is estimated to be <br />2500 gpd/ftZ. The water quality was initially characterized as a calcium bicarbonate water <br />with small concentrations of iron, magnesium sulfate, and nitrates <br />Surface Water <br />The general azea, which includes the mine plan azea, is drained by the Canadian River, a <br />perennial stream [ha[ flows northward into the North Platte River at Northgate, Colorado. <br />The Canadian River drains ] ]4 square miles between USGS Stations 06619400, upstream of <br />mining activities, and 06619450 downstream of mining activities. The drainage area between <br />these two monitoring stations includes the Marr Mine plan area, other abandoned and <br />reclaimed mines, and various agricultural enterprises. The agricultural usages of land <br />surrounding the mine plan azea are primarily non-irrigated rangeland. Lands immediately <br />paralleling and of varying widths along the Canadian River have been classified meadowland. <br />A portion of the meadowland is cut for hay. This land is not shown precisely as various <br />acreages in each category. Along the draws downstream from the permit area, there are no <br />indications that this area is used for anything but rangeland. The Canadian River has a <br />recorded average base flow rate of four (4) cfs. The recorded water flow rate has reached two <br />hundred (200) cfs during the snowmelt/rainfall period. Most of the water received in this <br />river comes from snowmelt in the Medicine Bow Range to the east. Spring flooding <br />decreases gradually in July and August [o the base level. <br />Canadian River water quality samples taken upstream of mining activities, USGS Station <br />06619400, contain predominantly calcium and bicarbonate ions. Water quality samples taken <br />downstream from mining activity at USGS Station 06619450 show slightly higher <br />concentrations of magnesium, sulfate, and nitrogen (NOZ and NO3). The nitrogen increases <br />are attributed to agriculmral practices in the area. The permit application states that the higher <br />concentrations of magnesium and sulfate can be partially attributed to mining activities of the <br />area. Tables 13 and 14 of the permit application detail these water quality data. <br />The mine plan azea is drained by ephemeral and intermittent stream systems. Starting at the <br />north end of the permit area and proceeding southward, one finds the Sudduth, Williams, <br />Bush, and Bolton Draws (with watersheds of 3.6, 4.6, 4.8, and 6.8 square miles, respectively). <br />Bolton Draw lies to the south of the permit area and could possibly be impacted by waters <br />Marc Mine Permit Renewal 04 <br />17 January, 2002 <br />-15- <br />