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-41- cover the consumptive use in their mine operations (pages 2.04-29 to -33 of the Hawk's Nest permit application). Western Slope Carbon estimates that the Hawk's Nest Mine will consume 215 acre-feet of water per year, which amounts to 0.076$ of the mean annual yield of the North Fo-ic of the Gunnison River. For the WECC Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine, the worst-case scenario would be if the 150 acre-feet per year of water used for spraying the coal and for the potable water supply were entirely removed from the basin, On the average, this would amount to approximately 12.5 acre-feet of water each month. From Figure 9, it appears (f ram Column 5) that the months of August and September will be the critical months for removal of water from the watershed. In reality, most of the water used for potable water will be returned to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Consequently, WECC's main concern will be the water lost due to spraying activities. WECC will store water diverted from the North Fork in a storage pond adjacent to the river. The total estimated worst-case depletion (150 acre-feet per year) would amount to only 0.055 of the mean annual yield of the North Fork. {See materials submitted by ARCO Coal Company, December 15, 1981, in response to permit Stipulation No. 7.) Bear Coal Company utilizes potable water from the Somerset Domestic Waterworks for domestic purposes. Water used for mine and surface facilities dust suppression and equipment wash down is pumped from the North Fork of the Gunnison River at the rate of approximately 2.0 acre-feet per year. The total • estimated consumption of water which is tributary to the North Fork of the Gunnison River will be 2.0 acre-feet per year. This consumption represents 0.0006 of the mean annual yield of the river at Somerset. The Terror Creek Coal yard withdraws water from two sources, Water for dust suppression is supplied by senior water rights from the Deertrail Ditch. The ditch withdraws water from Hubbard Creek. Use averages 5,000 gallons per day {5.6 acre feet/year). Previously, this water was used to irrigate orchards where the loadout is now situated. A domestic well which supplies about 450 gallons per day (0.5 acre feet/year) is used for domestic use at the loadout office. Terror Creek's consumption amounts to 0,002 of the North Fork's mean annual yield at Somerset. The Orchard Valley Mine pumps approximately 30,000 gpd (23.02 acre-feet per year) from Steven's Gulch for coal spraying, dust control, fire control, and potable water supplies. This depletion has been augmented by an approved augmentation plan through Division 4 Water Court (see Water Rights Study in the Orchard Valley Mine's Volume 5 and 5A), which utilizes releases from East Beckwith No. 1 Reservoir, located in tfie Anthracite drainage, to replace water removed from Steven's Gulch. Most of the potable water supply used for showering, etc. is treated at the site and released to the sediment ponds. The loss due to evaporation of the water in the ponds is expected to have a minimal impact on water yields of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Another consumptive use of water by the Orchard Valley Mine will be water absorbed on coal which is transported out of the basin. CWI is supplying water consumption information annually to the Division as a committed • condition of their 1981 permit approval. The worst-case depletion to the flow in the North Fork (23.02 acre-feet per year) fora 250-day work year should be 0.0085 of the mean annual yield in the river.