Laserfiche WebLink
will be considerably less than this prediction, due to the limited <br />amount of contributing rainfall. The applicant projects there will <br />be no spoil discharge. Any spoil spring discharge would be of <br />relatively poor quality, perhaps 2 to 3 times higher in Total <br />Dissolved Solids than background water quality, but would be easily <br />diluted to background quality prior to any use downstream. <br />The applicant will conduct an annual spoil spring survey which will <br />verify these projections. Any springs with discharge of at least 10 <br />GPM will be identified and sampled for a full suite of parameters, <br />with a report to be submitted to the Division by June 15 of each <br />year. <br />The applicant has also committed to replacement of any adjudicated <br />source of water which may be impacted by the proposed mining <br />operation, as would be required by Colorado water law. <br />Surface water <br />The probable hydrologic consequences of mining activities to <br />surface water in the proposed Hamilton Mine permit area will result <br />from alterations to runoff characteristics, surface configuration, <br />and water quality. Total dissolved solids (TDS) for Naturita <br />Creek, vary from 900 to 1,750 mg/1, and are much higher than for <br />the San Miguel River, which has a weighted average TDS of 316 <br />mg/1. According to data provided by Lillylands, Inc. sulfates vary <br />from 500 to 963 mg/1 in Naturita Creek water, whereas San Miguel <br />River water generally has less than 100 mg/1. Levels of calcium, <br />magnesium and potassium are also higher in Naturita Creek than in <br />the San Miguel River.. Naturita Creek is suitable for livestock <br />use. Mining activities are not expected to contribute <br />significantly to changes in water quality parameters of either of <br />these streams, except for total suspended solids (TSS> which is <br />expected to decrease as a result of interception of water by <br />sediment ponds. Total salt loading is expected to increase <br />somewhat due to exposure of materials not previously in contact <br />with surface water, breakup of overburden by mining activities and <br />concentration due to evaporation of water during retention in <br />sediment ponds. <br />Samples taken during runoff resulting from 1988 snowmelt and Storm <br />events along Long, Center, Section 33 and Hamilton (referred to as <br />Broad Creek in the permit application) Creeks show a variability in <br />TDS from 5,080 mg/1 on upper Hamilton Creek following a storm, to <br />110 mg/1 on Upper Center Creek following snowmelt. Sulfates varied <br />from 3,680 mg/1 on Upper Hamilton Creek during the same storm event <br />_l7_ <br />