GENERAL44240

• Permit No: C1981038
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 10/12/1986
• Doc Name: PROPOSED DECISION & FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE FOR PR2
• Permit Index Doc Type: FINDINGS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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Gunnison River after flowing through the mine workings. In the latter case,
the impact upon water users located along Minnesota Creek is potentially the
greatest. In either case, flow below the confluence of Minnesota Creek and
the North Fork of the Gunnison River should not be affected.
Orchard Valley Mine may similarly impact springs located above their
underground workings. Water balance calculations submitted by CWI along with
spring location and streamflow data indicates that the springs do not
contribute a significant amount of stream base flow. The springs are small
enough that they dry up downgrade and do not recharge stream alluvium or the
channel itself. Therefore, even at worst case no significant impact to the
hydrologic balance in streams is anticipated.
Withdrawal of Water from the North Fork
of the Gunnison River for Mine Use
Streamflows may also be depleted through the withdrawal of water from the
stream or the alluvium of the stream for use in the mining operations.
Bear Coal Company will utilize 1.15 acre-feet per year of domestic water from
the Somerset Domestic Waterworks as drinking water and for sanitary purposes
at the No. 3 Mine. This water will be used for dust suppression on roads and
for wash down of the mine shop and equipment: Within the mine, the water will
be used to cool equipment and for dust suppression. The total estimated
consumption of water which is tributary to the North Fork River will be 5.5
acre-feet per year. This consumption represents 0.001% of the mean annual
yield in the North Fork. Additional minor amounts of water will be consumed
through evaporation from the sediment ponds at the mines.
The Blue Ribbon Mine consumes about 16,010 gallons of water per daffy (11.12
gpm). This water is pumped from a well completed in the alluvium of Hubbard
Creek. This alluvial water is tributary to the flow of water in Hubbard
Creek. The water consumption consists of 1,050 gpd for sanitary and domestic
use, 9,600 gpd for water absorbed on the coal from the mine, and 5,360 gpd for
dust control and equipment wash down. The total depletion of water tributary
to the North Fork of the Gunnison fora 250-day work year will be 12.28
acre-feet per year. This is 0.003% of the mean annual yield in the North Fork.
The Orchard Valley Mine pumps approximately 30,000 gpd (23.02 acre-feet per
year) from Steven's Gulch for coal spraying, dust control, fire control, and
potable water supplies. This depletion has been augmented by an approved
augmentation plan through Division 4 Water Court (see Water Rights Study in
Volume 5 and5A), which utilizes releases from East Beckwith No. 1 Reservoir,
located in the Anthracite drainage, to replace water removed from Steven's
Gulch. Most of the potable water supply used for showering, etc. is treated
at the site and released to the sediment ponds. The loss due to evaporation
of the water in the ponds is expected to have a minimal impact on water yields
of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Another consumptive use of water by
the Orchard Valley Mine will be water absorbed on coal which is transported
out of the basin. CWI, is supplying water consumption information annually to
the Division as a committed condition of their 1981 permit approval. The
worst-case depletion to the flow in the North Fork (23.02 acre-feet per year)
fora 250-day work year should be 0.006% of the mean annual yield in the river.