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CNAPTERTWO Agency Preferred AlternatAre • monitored in accordance with the current U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitoring schedule for Utese streams, since baseline conditions have been established at existing stations on these streams. Spring and seep monitoring would be conducted twice per yeaz during high flow (spring) and lower flow (fall) conditions for the baseline period and during solution mining operations. Highlights of the Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Plan are presented below. Groundwater Monitoring • A network of 24 monitoring wells (11 in the Upper Aquifer; 9 in the Lower Aquifer, and 4 in the Alluvial Aquifer) would be used to further characterize groundwater at the Piceance Site and detect potential impacts from commercial operations. One of the alluvial wells would be located downgradient of the proposed evaporation pond to monitor for potential leakage. Ten monitoring wells currently exist and the remain;ng 11 wells would be installed in mid-1999. • Monitoring wells would be located upgradient, within, and downgradient of the 0-5 yeaz mining panel was shown in Figure 2-10 of the Draft EIS. • One alluvial aquifer monitoring well would be installed and sampled downgadient of the evaporation pond at the Parachute Site. • Groundwater levels would be measured monthly in all wells. Water levels in the dissolution surface would be monitored continuously and evaluated monthly. • During a baseline period (13 months) wells would be sampled monthly for the water quality pazameters listed in Table 2. During commercial operations, wells within the mining panel would be sampled monthly (Table 2), while those outside would be sampled quarterly for the pazameters listed in Table 3. • Water quality parameters shown in Tables 2 and 3 would be analyzed by an off-site, Colorado-certified laboratory. Surface Water Monitoring • Piceance Creek dischazge and water quality would be monitored quarterly at two existing USGS gaging stations: one upstream of the Piceance Site and downstream of Ryan Gulch and one downstream of the Piceance Site at the confluence of Piceance Creek with the White River. • Parachute Creek dischazge and water quality would be monitored quarterly (including 5 quarters of baseline) at locations upstream and downstream of the Parachute Site. • Spring and seep surveys and sampling would be conducted twice per yeaz (once during low flow and once during high flow). Samples would be analyzed for the parameters listed in Table 3. • Surface water samples would be analyzed for the parameters listed in Table 4 for quarterly sampling. 2-9