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Group contains (1) the Corcoran Sandstone, a marine shale sequence, and the Rollins Sandstone; (2) the Bowie (coal-bearing) member; (3) the Paonia (coal-bearing) member; and (4) the Upper (non-coal bearing) member. The Corcoran and Rollins Sandstones are the bottom and top, respectively, of the Iles Formation, and the upper three members belong to the Williams Fork Formation (see Figure 3.3-3 in the permit application). The Wheeler coal seam, which was planned to be mined at the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine, is in the Williams Fork Formation within the Bowie member. Coal seams in the Bowie member are the most continuous of any of the Mesaverde coals. Their cumulative thickness is 33 to 54 feet. The Wasatch and Ohio Creek formations unconformably overlie the Mesaverde Group. These formations consist of.red and buff shale, red sandstone, and red to gray conglomerate and form the ridge bluffs to the Grand Hogback. Quaternary unconsolidated sediments in the mine area, as represented by surface features, fall into three geomorphic categories: 1) Alluvium: These Quaternary deposits include all sediments associated directly with the active portions of the various stream channels and alluvial fans. 2) Terraces: Sediments associated with the inactive portions of the stream channels, particularly those at much higher levels, have been categorized as Quaternary Terraces. 3) Colluvium: Colluvial deposits are considered to be loose, heterogeneous rock masses composed of soils and rock fragments which have been deposited chiefly by mass-wasting, usually at the base of steep slopes. Surface Water The Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine is located along the southern side of the Colorado River in the Upper Colorado River Basin, three miles east of New Castle, Colorado. The permit area includes three watersheds: the Colorado River, Alkali Creek, and South Canyon Creek. Proposed mining operations beneath portions of the Alkali and South Canyon Creek watersheds did not occur. Water from the Colorado River is of good quality and is used for domestic and irrigation purposes. Salinity concerns have resulted in the establishment of standards for the upper and lower Colorado River basin (including the Colorado River and Alkali Creek). Water has been monitored since 1981 on Alkali Creek and 1983 on the Colorado River. The Colorado Department of Health receiving stream standards for some metals have occasionally been exceeded in both the Colorado River and Alkali Creek, but the elevated metals were not determined to be mine related. For more information on surface hydrology, see permit application pages 3-40 through 3-49. Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine 5 Permit Rencwal No. 3