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The Olson Spring (S-45), located about 9,000 feet downgradient of mining, <br />could potentially be impacted. This spring, which issues from the Dry Creek <br />alluvium, could suffer a degradation in water quality. This would occur if <br />the Hubberson Gulch and Dry Creek alluvium are recharged by the spoils <br />aquifer discharge. As will be discussed in the Surface Water section of the <br />Probable Hydrologic Consequences Assessment, this discharge will be of <br />very poor quality. If the quality of Olson Spring, a domestic water right, is <br />affected, the applicant will be responsible for replacing this impacted water <br />with domestic quality water in the adjudicated quantities. <br />The probable impacts to these sites will most likely be observed as a <br />diminution in quantity of water available and a degradation of water quality. <br />The impacts to Spring S-5, a colluvial spring, and 5-41, a Williams Fork <br />Formation spring, will be observed as a decrease in quantity of water <br />available and a degradation of water quality. The recharge areas for these <br />springs will be mined out. Springs 5-41 and 5-23 both feed registered stock <br />ponds. S-41 feeds Temple Pond No. 2, a registered right with the State of <br />Colorado. Spring S-25 was mined through in the mid to late 1990's. Spring <br />S-1 may be affected by a redirection of ground water potential toward the <br />backfilled pits. <br />Spring 5-23 may be impacted by mining. 5-23 feeds Temple Pond No. 1, <br />which is also registered and is upgradient of mining activities. <br />It will probably be a number of years after mining comes closest to these <br />springs that the effects in quantity and/or quality are observed. Again, this <br />is due to the low transmissivity and storativity values associated with the <br />local strata. Most of these springs are used for stock watering. Mining <br />should not prohibit this use, because TDS levels will not surpass EPA <br />limitations for stock watering purposes. Post mining consequences of mining <br />will be the development of spoils aquifers in the backfilled pits. The <br />reclaimed pits will have the highest permeability/porosity values of any local <br />aquifers. The backfllled pits will induce recharge from precipitation and <br />surface runoff, from up gradient in the Williams Fork formation, and from <br />downgradient in the Williams Fork and Wadge coal. Until an equilibrium is <br />established between the backfilled pits and the surrounding aquifers, a <br />diminution of water quantity may be expected at some springs (S-1, S-5, <br />5-23, 5-41) and at Temple Well No. 1. <br />Eventually, springs and seeps will emanate from the topographically lowest <br />points of the reclaimed pits. These waters will be characterized by high <br />levels of iron, manganese, total dissolved solids, and possibly boron, Unless <br />this water is intercepted by holding ponds, it will add flow to the unnamed <br />drainage directly below the mining area and eventually to Hubberson Gulch <br />and Dry Creek. This flow may be expressed as surface flow, or as an <br />increased (elevated) water table, dependent upon local conditions. It is <br />projected that the concentrations of these parameters will decrease with <br />28 <br />