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coal seam was dry. These aquifer tests indicate that the "F" seam and the lenticular sandstones of the Barren member are poor aquifers at best, as ground water flow is mainly concentrated in fractured rock. Observations made underground by the staff of the MLRD at the Blue Ribbon, Hawk's Nest, Mt. Gunnison and Somerset Mines also indicate that the coal seams in the region are poor aquifers at best with very low transmissivities. The "B-2", "E" and "F" seams were observed to weep slightly at fresh cut faces, while mine entry walls a short distance from the face were dry. The sandstone and siltstone roof strata on the Mt. Gunnison, Blue ribbon, Hawk's Nest and Somerset mines also weep for short periods of time following mining and eventually dry up. The Hawk's Nest Mine workings in the "E" seam are dry even though these workings are within 600 feet of the North Fork, are below the level of the North Fork, and are parallel to the North Fork. These in-mine observations indicate that the "B-2", "E" and "F" coal seams and their roof strata are not significant regional aquifers. Observations of mining within the "C" and "D" seams at the Bear No. 1 and 2 mines, the "C" seam at the Bear No. 3 mine, and the "D" seam at the nearby Orchard Valley mine indicate that the "C" and "D" seams and their associated roof strata also are not significant regional aquifers. If the coal and their roof strata were aquifers, these strata would have continued to weep through the life of these mines. Some fractures and faults transect the Mesa Verde Formation and extend vertically to the surface. These faults and fractures produce narrow bands of secondary porosity within the rock strata. Due to the low permeability of the rock strata within the Mesa Verde Formation, these faults and fractures provide the primary path through which water flows both vertically between rock strata and horizontally within rock strata. When fault and fractures are encountered within the mines in the North Fork region, they generally produce mine inflows. The flow characteristics of each mine inflow associated with faults and fractures depend upon the lateral extent and the proximity of the fault or fracture to a stream valley. All inflows from these sources are characterized by an initial surge of water which then either decreases, or ceases completely with time. Soils Soils in the area include deep, moderately well drained loams and sandy loams overlying alluvial gravels in the valley bottom, with shallow well drained soils on the steep 9