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<br />Stipulation No. 51 <br />PRIOR TO SECONDARY OR RETREAT MINING AT THE GOLDEN EAGLE MINE, THE <br />PERMITTEE SHALL PROVIDE A HYDROLOGIC SURVEY OF WET CANYON. THE SURVEY <br />SHALL CONTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING DEPTH BELOW THE SURFACE, HORIZONTAL <br />EXTENT, WATER USE, AND QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF GROUND WATER AS REQUIRED <br />UNDER RULE 2.04.7(1). THE PERMITTEE SHALL ALSO PROYIDE A DISCUSSION OF <br />THE PROBABLE HYDROLOGIC CONSEQUENCES OF MINING UPON THOSE ALLUVIAL <br />AQUIFERS IDENTIFIED. <br />VII. Probable Hydrolo <br />of Mining and Cumulative Hvdroloaic <br />The following cumulative hydrologic impact study (CHIS) has been prepared <br />for the portion of the Purgatoire River Basin above Madrid, Colorado, <br />pursuant to Rule 2.07.6 (2)(c). This CHIS assesses the projected <br />cumulative hydrologic impacts of all anticipated mining operations in the <br />general area of the Golden Eagle Mine. <br />Mining operations included in the analysis include the New Elk (CMLRD <br />Permit Number C-B1-012) and Golden Eagle (CMLRD Permit Number C-81-013) <br />mines. These mines are existing underground mines located in the <br />Stonewall and Picketwire valleys within the Purgatoire River drainage. <br />This assessment is based primarily upon data and analy sis contained in <br />the New Elk and Golden Eagle Mines permit applications, and upon the <br />observations of Division personnel during inspections of the mine site. <br />Some additional analysis was performed by the Division to complete the <br />finding. <br />This discussion is divided into four major subsections: Description of <br />the Existing Environment, the Probable Hydrologic Consequences of Mining, <br />the Cumulative Hydrologic Impacts of Mining, and Continued Monitoring <br />Requirements. Surface and ground water are discussed separately in each <br />subsection. <br />DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT <br />The study area is situated in the Park Plateau, a subdivision of the <br />Great Plains physiographic province, which consists of the dissected <br />highlands that separate the High Plains to the east from the <br />Rocky Mountains to the west. The Purgatoire River flows through the <br />study area and is one of the major streams that drains the region. It <br />forms in the Sangre de Cristo Range south of the Spanish Peaks and has <br />three major headwater tributaries; the North Fork, Middle Fork and <br />South Fork which converge near the study area. The study area ranges in <br />elevation from 7,000 to 9,000 feet. Cottonwood is common on the <br />floodplain of the Purgatoire River, whereas pinyon, juniper, scrub oak <br />and mountain mahogany are common to the upland slopes. <br />-8- <br />