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The stream flows along the contact of the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone and the Fruitland Formation. <br />This stream rechazges these strata upgradient and receives discharges from these strata in the form <br />of seeps and springs down gradient. <br />The flows in the stream fluctuate seasonally and in response to thunderstorm events. Highest flows <br />occur during snowmelt and during early surruner when precipitation events aze more frequent. Some <br />baseflow to the stream is provided by springs in the stream channel. Spring and seeps, however, do <br />not provide enough flow to sustain stream flow from mid summer and early fall when evaporation <br />and transpiration are high. <br />The water in the stream of Carbon Junction Canyon is not diverted upstream or downstream of the <br />mine for flood or subirrigation of crops. Any use of water derived from Carbon Junction Canyon <br />would be through diversions of Animas River water downstream of the confluence of these two <br />streams. <br />The water quality of the stream in Cazbon Junction Canyon fluctuates seasonally. The water quality <br />in the stream is generally better during periods of high flow and gradually decreases in quality as <br />spring flows become more dominant. <br />The quantity of water from Carbon Junction Canyon tributary to the Animas River would be <br />insignificant to the overall flow of the river. The drainage basin of Carbon Junction Canyon is only <br />0.8 square miles compared to over 1090 square miles for the Animas River above the Colorado-New <br />Mexico state line. <br />The applicant has installed and will monitor two surface water stations upstream and downstream of <br />the proposed mine. Both stream flows and water quality samples are collected at these sites. Surface <br />water discharges from sediment ponds will be monitored under NPDES requirements and copies of <br />monitoring reports will be submitted to the Division quarterly. The surface water monitoring plan <br />will be adequate to monitor the effects of mining on the hydrologic balance. <br />Climate <br />The climate of the area is relatively moderate, with a monthly low mean temperature of 25.3°F in <br />January and a monthly high mean temperature of 67.0°F in July. Record temperature extremes range <br />from a high of 99°F, recorded in August, to lows of -27°F, recorded in January and February. Annual <br />precipitation averages 18.04 inches, with a maximum of 2.36 inches in August and a minimum of 0.98 <br />inches in November. The average snowfall is 65.3 inches, with the highest amount in January (21.2 <br />inches), followed by December (14.8 inches). The average wind direction is generally from the west, <br />with an average speed of less than one knot. <br />Vegetation <br />The permit area consists of a mosaic of pinon-juniper, mountain shrub, old field and cultivated <br />dryland wheat communities. The mountain shrub community is found primarily on the lower slopes <br />