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acting as a limited aquifer system near the Wadge coal. The overburden does not <br />contain or transport significant amounts of water in this area. <br />The applicant states that no hydrologic effects due to mining will be noticed at <br />Temple Well No. 1 (a domestic water right), located south and west of the mine <br />site. Eventually, some effects will be seen at this well. The effects may be <br />exhibited as increased levels of dissolved solids or other chemical parameters <br />(sulphur, iron) and/or diminished quantity of water at the well. These effects will <br />probably not be seen until a number of years after mining has reached its closest <br />point to the well. Eventually, effects will diminish as the dissolved solids are <br />leached from the spoils, and the aquifer characteristics return to normal. <br />Locally, the major impacts of mining include affecting the quantity and/or quality <br />of Springs S-1, S-5, S-23, S-41 and SAS. Effects of mining at these sites will not <br />be observed for a few years after mining is at its closest to these points. <br />The Olson Spring (5-45), located about 9,000 feet downgradient of mining, could <br />potentially be impacted. This spring, which issues from the Dry Creek alluvium, <br />could suffer a degradation in water quality. This would occur if the Hubberson <br />Gulch and Dry Creek alluvium are recharged by the spoils aquifer discharge. As <br />will be discussed in the Surface Water section of the Probable Hydrologic <br />Consequences Assessment, this discharge will be of very poor quality. If the <br />quality of Olson Spring, a domestic water right, is affected, the applicant will be <br />responsible For replacing this impacted water with domestic quality water in the <br />adjudicated quantities. <br />The probable impacts to these sites will most likely be observed as a diminution in <br />quantity of water available and a degradation of water quality. The impacts to <br />Spring S-5, a colluvial spring, and 5-41, a Williams Fork Formation spring, will be <br />observed as a decrease in quantity of water available and a degradation of water <br />quality. The recharge areas for these springs will be mined out. Springs S-41 and <br />S-23 both feed registered stock ponds. 5-41 feeds Temple Pond No. 2, a registered <br />right with the State of Colorado. Spring 5-25 was mined through in the mid to late <br />1990's. Spring S-1 may be affected by a redirection of ground water potential <br />toward the backfilled pits. <br />Spring 5-23 may be impacted by mining. 5-23 feeds Temple Pond No. 1, which is <br />also registered and is upgradient of mining activities. <br />It will probably be a number of years after mining comes closest to these springs <br />that the effects in quantity and/or quality are observed. Again, this is due [o the <br />low transmissivity and storativity values associated with the local strata. Most of <br />these springs are used for stock watering. Mining should not prohibit this use, <br />because TDS levels will not surpass EPA limitations for stock watering purposes. <br />Seneca II-W Findings Document 44 June 12, 2006 <br />Permit Renewal No. 5 <br />