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Surface drainage on the lease tract is directly to the North Fork of the Gunnison River via southerly flowing Hubbard Creek. Inspection of the draw at the north end of the permit area shows that the channel has not flowed in recent years. The apparent rarity of flow in the ephemeral drainage, and the fact that there are no springs above the coal seam, indicate that runoff and subsurface flow from the area above the coal seam do not contribute significantly to the flow of Hubbard Creek. There is one natural, intermittent spring that has been identified. It is located at the toe of the mine portal bench near the former location of Pond No. 2. The spring flow is now combined the south mine bench underdrain. 2. Probable Hydrologic Consequences a. Ground Water Effects and Mitigation The Blue Ribbon Mine does not expect to impact ground water, because the coal outcrop of the E seam is about 80 to 100 feet above the streambed of Hubbard Creek. In addition, the disturbed areas and underground mine areas are upland to the valley alluvial materials. The alluvium of Hubbard Creek is the only aquifer which was in use within the permit and adjacent areas. This aquifer supplied the water which was consumed at the Blue Ribbon Mine. The mine utilized the only well located in the Hubbard Creek alluvium as a water supply. This aquifer is an isolated body of alluvium. Up- and downstream of the mine, the Hubbard Creek stream valley narrows and the stream flows over resistant sandstone bedrock. Removal of water from the Hubbard Creek alluvial aquifer might cause a depletion in base flow in Hubbard Creek at the downstream extent of the alluvium. The impacts of the depletion are discussed in the following section on the probable hydrologic consequences of mining on surface waters. The Rollins Sandstone is the most significant regional bedrock aquifer in the North Fork Drainage Basin. This aquifer outcrops in a narrow steep reach along Hubbard Creek about a mile downstream of the mining operation. Recharge to this aquifer is limited within the Hubbard Creek Drainage. No wells are completed in the Rollins Sandstone below the mine in the Hubbard Creek Drainage and the potential use is limited by the steep valley slopes below the mine and the aquifers limited recharge area. The only potential impacts to this aquifer would be a slight decrease in the quantity and a slight degradation in the quality of waters recharging the aquifer. No ground water from the Rollins Sandstone will appear as mine inflows _2q.