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730 millimhos (mmhos). The mean sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) is about 0.7 according to <br />U.S.G.S data from samples taken at Naturita. Discharge records indicate that flow in this river <br />exceeds 60 cubic feet per second (cfs) 90% of the year, while flows exceed 1,000 cfs about 10% <br />of the year. The mean discharge of the river is 351 cfs. San Miguel River waters are suitable <br />for domestic use except during low flow periods when sulfate levels exceed EPA domestic use <br />standards. <br />Naturita Creek originates near the northern edge of the San Juan Range, flowing northwest <br />approximately 30 miles to its confluence with the San Miguel River upstream of Naturita. <br />Naturita Creek drains approximately 203 square miles. <br />Naturita Creek and its tributaries traverse mostly Upper Cretaceous Dakota and Lower <br />Cretaceous Burro Canyon Sandstones which have interfingered shale, mudstone, and Dakota <br />coal beds. There are three diversion systems within the Naturita Creek headwater area to the <br />southeast. All return flows from these diversions enter Naturita Creek upstream from the <br />proposed permit area. <br />Approximately 9 square miles of the Naturita Creek drainage basin surface flow may be affected <br />due to the proposed mining activities at the Hamilton Mine. An additional 8 square miles of <br />surface flow along Bramiers Draw may also be affected. Bramiers Draw empties directly into <br />the San Miguel River. <br />Surface runoff from the proposed permit area flows north into Naturita Creek along Section 33 <br />Creek. Runoff also flows west to Bramiers Draw which terminates in the San Miguel River less <br />than one quarter mile below its confluence with Naturita Creek. Stream flow across and <br />adjacent to the proposed permit area is ephemeral, resulting from snowmelt and storm activity <br />only. Springs in the area which may have contributed to flow in the past have been reported <br />dry the last several years according to data provided by Honeywood Coal Company. Water in <br />this drainage area, when present, is suitable for livestock use (from standards in National <br />Academy of Sciences, 1974). <br />Soils <br />Three major and two minor soil series occur on the proposed permit area (see Section 2.04.9, <br />Map 112 and Exhibit 7 of the Petmit Application). The major soil series are the Barx fine <br />sandy loam, 1-3 % slopes, the Barx fine sandy loam, 3-6% slopes and the Progresso loam, <br />3-12% slopes. The two soil series that will have minor amounts disturbed are the Pinon loam, <br />3-50% slopes and the Paradox fine sandy loam, 1-4% slopes. <br />The Barx soil is classified as a fine-loamy, mixed, Mesic Ustollic Haplargid. It is a deep, well <br />drained sandy loam located on mesas and terraces and formed in sandstone derived alluvium. <br />Typically, the Al horizon is brown fine sandy loam 2 inches thick. The A2 horizon is a reddish <br />brown loam 3 inches thick. The upper part of the B horizon is yellowish red or light reddish <br />brown sandy clay loam 18 inches thick. The lower 15 inches of the B horizon is.pinkish white <br />loam. The upper 13 inches of the C horizon is very pale brown loam and the lower part to a <br />depth of 74 inches or more is pink Ioam..In some areas the surface layer is loam or sandy clay <br />loam. <br />6 <br />