GENERAL49235

• Permit No: C1981038
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 7/23/1993
• Doc Name: PROPOSED DECISION & FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE FOR RN2
• Permit Index Doc Type: FINDINGS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

dewatering of lenticular sandstone units with limited recharge areas, o'r may
represent flows through fracture zones extending to the.surface which have
narrow recharge zones on steep slopes.
Surface Water -
Surface water information may be found in Volume 1, pages 42 to 47 of
Section 2.04, pages 114 to 135 of Section 2.05.6, and in Volume 4. Water
rights tabulations and an augmentation plan are found in Volumes 5 and 5A.
Annual hydrologic reports have been prepared since 1982 and exist as stand-
alone volumes.. for a description of the surface water hydrology of the mine
permit area and a discussion of the impacts of mining on surface water, please
refer to the Hydrologic Balance and Probable Hydrologic Consequences portions
of Section B of this document.
Orchard Valley's baseline surface water collection for the permit area
consisted of reviewing existing baseline studies on the area, compiling a list
of water rights on file with the State Engineer, identifying water resources
using aerial photographs, and actual on-the-ground surveys. In the 1988
Findings, only one concern with the baseline study, that pertained to a
proposed area to be mined outside that five-year permit term, was noted. CWI
had not obtained right of entry to conduct on-the-ground baseline surveys on
two tracts of land totalling 286 acres within the East Roatcap Creek drainage
basin, COVCC obtained the required rights of entry during 1992-93 and
performed ground reconnaissance for surface water sources on these areas as
baseline data for Permit Revision No. 3, which is pending approval as of the
writing of these findings.
The COVCC permit area is drained by East Roatcap Creek, West Roatcap Creek,
Main Roatcap Creek, Steven's Gu1ch,.Coai Gulch, and ierror Creek, all of which
are tributaries to the North Fork of the Gunnison (Figure 3>.
Terror Creek is a perennial stream with an aquatic community that includes
some trout. The stream has .a high gradient channel with riparian vegetation
and alluvium confined to narrow bands along the: channel.
Steven's Gulch, East Roatcap Creek, and Coal Gulch are intermittent to
ephemeral drainages that only flow part of the year. Localized deposits of
colluvial material reworked by fluvial processes are present within the
general area, primarily within the Steven's Gulch, West Fork Terror Creek, and
Roatcap Creek drainages. These deposits are generally 20 to 30 acres in size
and provide industrial (Steven's Gulch), domestic (Long Draw), and
agricultural (Morrell Cow Camp) water sources (page 39, Section 2.04.7 of
Volume 1). Several smaller occurrences of saturated alluvial/colluvial
deposits are associated with the streams. in the permit area; however, none of
these is currently supporting agricultural use.
The flow of water in Terror Creek and in the North Fork of the Gunnison River
is strongly influenced by irrigation structures along these stream courses. .
The Overland Ditch intercepts and distributes water from the upper reaches of
Terror Creek. The flow in the North Fork is controlled by Paonia Reservoir
and water withdrawals by several irrigation ditches - the Fire Mountain Canal,
Stewart Ditch, Farmers Ditch, and Paonia Ditch. In addition, there are two
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