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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 area, 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 primarily in response to direct precipitation. The White River is a perennial stream
<br />receiving dischazge from the permit and adjacent azeas. 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 Wortka series, which
<br />aze developed on ridge tops, ridge sideslopes, and in valley fans. Underdeveloped soils such as
<br />Colorado, Haverson alkali phase, Kinnear, 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 area to be affected by surface
<br />operations and facilities. Vegetation communities consist of juniper woodland, juniper
<br />woodland-big sagebrush, big sagebrush, big sagebrush-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 />grazing practices may have contributed to the extent of the cheatgrass-annual forb vegetation
<br />type throughout the permit azea. The permit azea is currently used aswinter/spring range for
<br />domestic sheep.
<br />Wildlife species found within the permit azea include mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus),
<br />pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana), and sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus).
<br />Numerous raptor species have been identified in the azea. Species include the ferruginous hawk
<br />(Buteo regalis), turkey vulture (Cathortes aura), mazsh hawk (Cireus cyaneus), American kestrel
<br />(Falco sparverius), sharp-shinned hawk (Accipter shiatus), burrowing owl (Spestyto
<br />cunieulaira), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicaensus), and golden eagle (Aquila chrysauetos).
<br />Bald eagles (Hliaeetus leucocephalus) and peregrine falcons (Falco seregrinus) aze known to
<br />migrate through the area. Lazge white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) towns exist in the
<br />azea of the refuse disposal sites.
<br />1R
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