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-17- outcrops and subcrops beneath the alluvium of streams to the southwest of the permit area within the Minnesota Creek Basin. However, due to the steepness of topography in the outcrop areas, (i.e. sandstones are ledge formers), and narrowness of the stream valleys, these regional aquifers received little recharge. Some recharge to the continuous units and much of the recharge to the more discontinuous, lenticular units will come directly from the percolation of snowmelt and precipitation downward through sands and along fractures. Preliminary pump tests conducted by WECC indicate the transmissivity of the F-seam to be 16.68 g/d/ft and that of the Barren Member to be 2.46 g/d/f t. No piezometric surface data for the F-seam or for individual continuous sands in the Barren Member are available, so no specific estimates of ground water flow rates can be developed. However, movement is likely to be very slow on a regional basis. Locally, water flow through fractures probably occurs more rapidly, as suggested by the seasonal fluctuation in discharge rates of some springs in the mine plan area. The direction of migration of water in the F-seam and larger sands will probably be northeasterly, down the dip of the beds, although this has not been confirmed by test drilling. Exhibit 2.8.2.A presents a "Composite Barren Member Well Water Level and Spring Elevation Map". This Exhibit generally confirms the northeasterly direction of ground water migration in the shallower units of the Barren Member in the 5-year permit area. However, in the Barren Member there appears to be a ground water divide approximately following the topographic divide separating the North Fork from Minnesota Creek. South of this divide, ground water in the Barren Member flows toward Minnesota CreeK. Discharge of ground water occurs through numerous seeps and springs. See Spring Location Map, Exhibit 2.8.1.U. Over 100 springs are located in the mine plan area. Thirty-three of the most significant springs in the permit and adjacent area are tabulated on Table 2.8.1.V. Additional springs are identified on Table 2.8.1.0. Flows from these springs range up to 60 gpm however, most observed flows are significantly less as depicted on Table 2.8.1.X. Some of these springs appear to be associated with local faulting and fracturing. Others appear associated with landslides or slumps as identified in Exhibit 2.8.1.V. entitled "Spring Locations vs. Topography, Landslides, Rockfalls and Lineaments", and Table 2.8.2.V. entitled "Springs in and Around 5-Year Mine Plan, Mt. Gunnison, Colorado". Most springs are noted to come from lenticular sands, and the recharge and discharge areas of these springs are concluded to be in close proximity because of highly seasonal variations in flow. However, it is likely that some of the more prominent and perennial springs receive their recharge, at least in part, from greater distances and from more continuous aquifer systems which have greater storage capacities--perhaps extending into the Minnesota Creek drainage.