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<br />to <br />reclamation operation over the remainder of the Eckman Park, Mine 1, Mine No. 2 complex, as well <br />as continues to conduct a cattle operation. The Mine No. 2 azea will continue to be managed by <br />Colorado Yampa Coal Company. In a letter dated February 20, 1997, (Permit Exhibit 30), Cross <br />Mountain Ranch, surface landowners of the parcel that Pond M is located, requested that Pond M <br />and its associated ditches remain. Cross Mountain Ranch also commits to obtaining any necessary <br />State Engineer's permits for Pond M (Rule 3.03.1(3)(c)). Once pond K is reclaimed, its disturbance <br />will remain within the C-81-071 permit area. <br />Collection ditch O-I remains in support of Pond O. Collection ditch R-1 remains to direct flow to <br />Livestock pond U-a. <br />The following hydrologic consequences to the Fish Creek drainage as a result of mining were <br />predicted by the operator: <br />a) removal of parts of the Fish Creek overburden aquifer at Mine No. 2, b) Re-saturation of <br />backfilled spoil material to the elevation of the lowest point of the downdip mine highwall, c) <br />Development of spoil springs and seeps at the downslope edge of the spoils material, d) <br />limited degradation of surface water quality due to spoil spring contributions to surface water <br />flows, e) Increased salt loading in streams draining the proposed permit azea, and f) a <br />moderate change in the ion balance of surface water drainage in the pertnit azea and adjacent <br />area. <br />A summary of upstream and downstream data on Fish Creek representing pre- and post-reclamation <br />water quality is included as Table 1. Pre-mining hydrologic data for Mine No. 2 and Fish Creek <br />drainage aze unavailable as mining commenced in this azea prior to August 1, 1977 and providing <br />baseline data not a requirement of the mining permits at that time. Data collected in 1979 and 1980 <br />are the earliest available data, and have been included to demonstrate historical impacts to Fish Creek <br />as a result of reclamation of Mine No. 2. <br />Table 1: Mine No. 2: Fish Creek <br />Pre-reclamation: <br />Upstream Site 16 No pre-mining flow data 3/7/79- 12/6/79 x TDS=429 mg/L <br />1979 pH range: 7.3-8.5 <br />Quality: 1980 x Ca=60 mg/L 1980 x Mg=34 mg/L 1980 R Na=25 mg/L <br />1979 z Fe=190 ug/L 1979 x Mn=76 ug/L <br />Downstream Site 1002 5/12/79-10/16/79 Rflow= 14.33 cfs 3/9/79-12/6/79 R TDS=512.5 mg/L <br />1979 pH range: 7.0-8.4 <br />Quality: 1980 z Ca= 60 mg/L 1980 x Mg=38 mg/L 1980 z Na=34 mg/L <br />1979 R Fe=174 ug/L 1979 x Mn=61 ug/L <br />