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-27_ <br />Upstream Downstream <br />SW3 SW2 SW4 SW1 <br />9090* 584 5 160 <br />*Al1 data in mg/1 <br />SW4 is located at the last downstream point directly draining the mining <br />operation. The low levels of TSS at SW4 is due to the settling of solids in <br />the beaver dams and in the lush grasses of the flood plain of Grassy Creek. <br />From SW4 to SW1 the stream character changes, becoming more erosive in nature <br />with less vegetative cover and fewer beaver dams. <br />Dissolved solids are not affected by seepage through the dams as can be seen <br />from the following data collected in April, 1980. <br />Upstream Downstream <br />SW3 SW2 SW4 SW1 <br />190* 240 367 184 <br />*All data in mg/1 <br />Later samplings show levels exceeding 700 mg/1 at SW3. These levels fall <br />within a category which could have detrimental effects on sensitive crops. As <br />there is no irrigation or agricultural activity in the upper reaches of Grassy <br />Creek, elevated levels of dissolved solids are not expected to have an impact <br />on surface water usage. Dilution with downstream undisturbed waters will <br />mitigate the impact of increases in total dissolved solids on usability of the <br />water for irrigation on the Grassy Creek alluvial valley floor. <br />Fe and Mn both show elevated levels in the upstream portions of Grassy Creek <br />during high flows. Mn exceeded the Colorado Water Quality Criteria for <br />agricultural water (0.2 mg/1) during one sampling event and had acceptable <br />levels for all other analyses. Grassy Creek water samples from April, 1980 <br />showed high levels of Fe directly downstream of disturbed mine sites. The <br />levels of Fe are shown below. <br />Upstream Downstream <br />SW3 SW2 SW4 SW1 <br />2.1* 9.8 1.0 1.8 <br />*All data in total iron-mg/1 <br />SW4, located downstream of all mining activity and at the permit boundary, <br />shows greatly lowered levels of Fe. Later submitted data shows no high iron <br />levels. <br />