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Mr. Jim Stark <br />September 23, 2005 <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />allow these valley bottoms to support more lush vegetation even where sub-irrigation is <br />not a factor. <br />Based on information from monitoring wells installed in the valley fill and from seeps <br />and springs occurring in the valley fill, groundwater in the valley fill is present under a <br />variety of conditions and interacts with the surface water and bedrock groundwater <br />systems. [n the upstream reaches, surface water infiltrates into the valley fill. Some of the <br />valley fill groundwater may recharge the bedrock units while the balance flows in the <br />lower part of the valley fill. [n the downstream reaches, the bedrock units appear to <br />discharge to the valley fill, particularly in the northern part of the permit azea, and this <br />discharge to the valley fill augments baseflow to the stream channels. <br />The topography of the valley bottoms is simple, with surface water being directed to a <br />single main channel in the valley bottoms. Due to the deep incision of gullies present in <br />many of the valley bottoms, floodplains are generally very narrow (<20 feet) and <br />flooding does not escape the incised feature. <br />With the exception of the terrace that comprises the main floor of each valley bottom <br />(now considered a terrace due to the deeply incised channel), local and regional terrace <br />levels are not evident within or immediately adjacent to the permit area on any available <br />topographic maps. Only one feature observed during the soil survey appeazs to be an old <br />(Quaternazy, but not active far several thousand years) terrace remnant. This feature is <br />located at the Jubb Creek road entrance in the southwest quarter of Section 16, Township <br />4 North, Range 93 West, and is of undetermined extent. Gravels found in the subsoil <br />offer the primary evidence that this is a terrace remnant. However, changes in the <br />topography are too subtle to provide adequate evidence for precise delineation of the <br />feature. <br />Geologic mapping that includes all or parts of the Collom permit area has been conducted <br />by numerous parties over the past 25 years. The documents listed below were referenced <br />during the present work. While slight differences exist, there is general agreement <br />among [he previous studies and between the work conducted by Maxim and the previous <br />studies. <br />• Reheis, M.C., 1981. Geologic Map and Coal Resources of the Easton Gulch <br />Quadrangle, Moffat County, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Coal Resources <br />Investigations Map C-87. <br />• Madole, R.F., 1989. Surficial Geologic Map of the Meeker 30' x 60' Quadrangle, <br />Garfield, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological <br />Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map 1-1823. <br />• Dames and Moore, 1980. Danforth Hills Project Alluvial Valley Floor <br />Preliminary Identification and Evaluation. <br />• Dames and Moore, 1995. Colowyo Alluvial Valley Floor Analysis Report: <br />Report prepared far Colowyo Coal Company, December 5, 1995. <br />• James P. Walsh & Assoc., Inc., 1984. Reconnaissance Alluvial Valley Floor <br />Investigation Danforth Hills Project: Report prepared for Consolidation Coal <br />Company, September 12, 1984. <br />• James P. Walsh & Assoc., Inc., 1984. Reconnaissance Alluvial Valley Floor <br />Investigation -Lower Good Spring and Milk Creeks, Danforth Hills Project: <br />Report prepared for Consolidation Coal Company, December I5, 1984. <br />"Scientists antl Engineers Committed to Clienf Satisfaction" <br />