Laserfiche WebLink
Ground Water <br />No major bedrock aquifers of regional extent have been identified in the permit and adjacent area <br />by the applicant. Drilling has indicated that the Cameo coal seam becomes increasingly <br />saturated downdip from its outcrop in Munger Canyon. The Cameo seam subcrops below the <br />East Salt Creek alluvium. This indicates that East Salt Creek, several miles from the mine, is the <br />recharge source for the Cameo coal seam. Some local lenticular strata of limited extent have <br />been identified above the Cameo seam which contain perched ground water. Underground <br />mining activities at the Munger Canyon Mine will be updip and away from the saturated zone in <br />the Cameo seam (see Figure 4.4-I of Volume III of the application). <br />Alluvial ground water exists within the East Salt Creek alluvium. The East Salt Creek Valley <br />contains an intermittent stream channel. <br />Surface Water <br />Munger Canyon contains an ephemeral channel which is tributary to East Salt Creek. Ground <br />water in the alluvium and colluvium of Munger Canyon is at depths greater than 40 feet and thus <br />is too deep to support subirrigation of crops. <br />Ephemeral tributaries to Munger Canyon will be planned to be undermined during the five-yeaz <br />permit period and life of mine. Two ephemeral tributaries to Big Salt Wash, Buniger and Stove <br />Canyons, will also be undermined during the five-year permit period and life of mine. <br />at <br />The climate in the region is semi-arid. Prevailing winds at or neaz ground level at the mine are <br />dictated by the orientation of the deeply incised Munger Canyon and occur from the <br />north-northwest. The annual average precipitation recorded at Frtrita (21 miles southeast of <br />Munger Canyon) is 8.8 inches. Mean monthly temperatures recorded at Grand Junction range <br />from 26.6 to 78.7oF, and mean annual temperature is estimated at 52.7oF. <br />and e <br />Land use within the permit and adjacent area is grazing and wildlife habitat. Grazing is generally <br />confined to the lower-lying canyon bottom lands. The upland azea consists of steep slopes and <br />rugged topography and is primarily used by wildlife. Some irrigated agriculture is practiced in <br />the East Salt Creek Valley, which is adjacent to the permit azea. <br />ils <br />The soils mapped in the permit area consist of the Glendive, Havre. Nihill and Rivra series. <br />which are well too excessively drained and have formed in alluvial or colluvial sediments. Soils <br />to <br />