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Water quality data have been collected at several sites throughout the <br />Minnesota Creek drainage. The data indicate that these waters aze of a <br />calcium bicarbonate type with relatively low total dissolved solids <br />concentration. <br />Minnesota Reservoir appears to have an effect on the water quality <br />characteristics of Dry Fork. Detention of Dry Fork flows in the <br />Minnesota Reservoir results in a decrease in total suspended solids (TSS) <br />or turbidity, a slight increase in temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and <br />total dissolved solids (TDS). The increase in TDS is most likely a result <br />of evaporation losses. There is a slight increase in alkalinity and, as a <br />result, a slight increase in pH. In all likelihood, these changes aze also a <br />result of evaporation losses. All of the changes in water quality observed <br />aze what would be expected as a result of impounding water in a shallow <br />reservoir in asemi-arid climate. <br />There are three different types of springs within the permit area including <br />alluvial, colluvial, and bedrock springs. Eighty-three springs have been <br />identified within the permit area. Recent data indicate that 65 percent of <br />the discharge originates from alluvium and/or colluvium, and 35 percent <br />have bedrock formation as their source. Only 5 per cent of discharge <br />comes from the Upper and Lower Coal Series. The flow rates of these <br />springs are highly seasonal with peak flows occurring during wet weather <br />conditions.Measurements indicate that spring flows generally decrease <br />from a high in the early summer to a low in the fall. A number of the <br />springs are ephemeral, indicating that their sources are small localized <br />aquifers (i.e. landslide deposits, colluvium, lenticular sandstones, etc.). <br />There aze a total of nineteen (19) decreed spring water rights on or near <br />the West Elk permit area. <br />Wetlands have also been identified within the permit azea. Based upon <br />inspection of conventional and infra-red aerial photographs and <br />reconnaissance-level field investigation, there are estimated to be 2 to 3 <br />acres of wetlands (as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the <br />Apache Rocks permit revision area. Most of the wetlands aze found in <br />drainage channels, although there are small, isolated wetlands on the <br />hillsides where springs and seeps occasionally emerge as a result of <br />landslides/sumps. <br />2. Probable Hydrologic Consequences <br />Determination of the probable hydrologic consequences of the proposed <br />mining and reclamation activities at the West Elk Mine has been made by the <br />applicant, and is found in Section 2.05.6(3) of the permit document. The <br />operator has projected the impacts based on past experience, expected rates of <br />water use and water discharge, hydrogeologic conditions associated with <br />50 <br />