Laserfiche WebLink
File SL-01. Penni~ Nu. C81-010 <br />Trapper Mining Inc. <br />I I/?3/98 <br />Page 6 <br />using field estimates of the volumes of sediment that have accumulated in each of the <br />ponds in those drainages. <br />Bz¢~ard drainages -The Division estimated the volumes of sediment in the ponds <br />in the Buzzard drainages on September 1, 1998 during the Division's regular monthly <br />inspection (please refer to attached Appendix B). As shown in Table 3, the sediment <br />volume estimates for the ponds in the Buzzard drainages appear to confirm that post- <br />mining sediment yield in those drainages has been less than the LISLE-calculated pre- <br />mining rates (as adjusted for sediment delivery). In addition, the estimates of pond <br />sediment volumes translate into post-mining sediment yield rates that compare <br />favorably with the LISLE-calculated post-mining soil loss rate. <br />Coyote drainage -The Division's pacing and measuring stick survey methods used <br />for the Buzzard ponds were not feasible for Trapper's largest pond, Coyote; therefore, <br />the Division relies on the operator's annual surveys of that pond for an indication of <br />the historical sedimentation rate in Coyote drainage (see attached Appendix C). <br />Sediment was last cleaned out of Coyote pond in fall 1988. Trapper's annual <br />sediment surveys have not detected additional sediment accttmulation in the pond <br />since July 1991, 7 yeazs ago. Annual surveys consistently found 38 acre-feet of <br />sediment in the pond. Trapper surveyed Coyote pond by shooting points in the pond <br />when it was dry and probing from a rafr when it contained water. The pond was dry <br />during most of the surveys. Trapper's surveys could reasonably be expected to have <br />detected any new sediment thickness of 4 inches (0.33 foot) or more; therefore, the <br />calculation in Table 3 assumed a layer of sediment 0.33-foot thick had accumulated in <br />the pond. (A layer 0.33 foot thick distributed over the entire 6-acre area of the pond <br />equates to 3223 cubic yards.) As shown in Table 3, Coyote's post-mining soil loss <br />rate appeazs to have been less than the LISLE-calculated pre-mining rate and it <br />compares favorably with the LISLE-calculated post-mining soil loss rate. <br />Pond sediment volumes cannot be used for estimating post-mining sediment yield <br />from the bond release blocks in No Name drainage because that drainage has not yet <br />been fully reclaimed. Mining continues in the upper reaches of that drainage. <br />Reclamation practices in No Name aze similaz to those in the Buzzazd and Coyote <br />drainages; therefore, there is no reason to believe sediment yield rates in No Name <br />would be significantly different from those drainages. <br />