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which underlies the "A" coal seam and is generally equivalent to the Trout Creek Sandstone and <br />the upper portion of the Iles Formation; the Siltstone and Coal Facies, which consists of the <br />interbedded coal, Siltstone, and shale strata of the Lower Williams Fork Formation; and the upper <br />Sandstone Facies of the Upper Williams Fork Formation. <br />A fourth hydrologic unit is the alluvium of the White River and its tributaries. The maximum <br />thickness of the White River Alluvium neaz the permit area was found to be 37 feet. <br />Groundwater in the alluvium occurs in an unconfined condition. <br />No major usage of groundwater in or adjacent to the permit azea has been defined by the <br />permittee. Due to the generally low yield and poor quality of aquifers in the region, high <br />groundwater usage would be unusual. Recharge of the bedrock aquifers occurs primarily at <br />higher elevations north of the permit azea through infiltration of precipitation in outcrop azeas. <br />Discharge is primarily through seeps where aquifers aze erosionally exposed along the White <br />River. <br />The operator had originally developed an alluvial well field neaz the confluence of Scullion <br />Gulch and the White River to supply water for mine operations. In 1984, Kenney Reservoir was <br />completed above Rangely, Colorado. Kenney Reservoir impounds the White River through the <br />southern portion of the permit area, inundating much of the alluvial well field. Because the <br />alluvial surface is almost completely submerged by the reservoir, recharge to the alluvium is now <br />instantaneous. Due to inundation of the well field by the reservoir, and due to high salinity of the <br />alluvial well water, the operator now pumps water directly from the White River into an adjacent <br />lagoon, and from there, water is pumped to the mine's raw water storage tank.. Only one <br />alluvial well, Qal-5, located at the mouth of Scullion Gulch, remains in use as a monitoring well. <br />The Red Wash Syncline and major fracture zones located along Red Wash, Scullion Gulch, and <br />the White River control movement of the Mesaverde groundwater. Groundwater in the <br />northwest part of the permit azea moves down dip to the Red Wash Syncline. Within the central <br />and southern portion of the permit azea, groundwater flows south to the White River. <br />Surface water drainage patterns in the area aze incised and dendritic. Scullion Gulch and Red <br />Wash flow primazily in response to direct precipitation. The White River is a perennial stream <br />receiving discharge from the permit and adjacent areas. The majority of flows in the White River <br />occur between May and July in response to snowmelt. <br />Soils in the azea include the Cushman, Forelle, Pinelli, Potts, Satanka and Worfka series, which <br />aze developed on ridge tops, ridge sideslopes, and in valley fans. Underdeveloped soils such as <br />Colorado, Haverson alkali ghase, Kinneaz, Moyerson, Redcreek, Rentsac, and Turley variant <br />occur on low floodplains, extreme ridge tops, and upper ridge sideslopes. <br />Eight plant communities have been identified in the permit azea to be affected by surface <br />operations and facilities. Vegetation communities consist of juniper woodland, juniper <br />woodland-big sagebrush, big sagebrush, big sagebmsh-wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, <br />Colorado wildrye, cheatgrass-annual forb, and big sagebrush-greasewood. These communities <br />comprise a mosaic controlled by soil type, topography, and past and present land uses. Historic <br />lfi <br />