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A description of surface water occurrence and mining impacts on surface water within the permit and adjacent areas can be found in the "Probable Hydrologic Consequences of Mining" section of this document and the "Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study" document for this mine area. Hubbard Creek runs through the permit area between the mine bench and the former location of the coal stockpile and is the only tributary of the North Fork of the Gunnison which may be affected by operations at the Blue Ribbon Mine. The disturbed area associated with the Blue Ribbon Mine is approximately 20 acres, or about 0.1 percent of the drainage area of Hubbard Creek, excluding those areas of upstream diversion. Since the mine workings are above the level of Hubbard Creek, the mine presently does not experience any inflows which can be directly related to water flowing in Hubbard Creek. A spring survey of the permit area has been completed and one spring was located. This spring is located below the mine bench and discharges from rock strata which are stratigraphically below the E seam. A small ephemeral drainage enters Hubbard Creek from the east near the northeast corner of the permit area. It flows only during spring runoff. The gradient of the channel is 28 percent. Geology - Rules 2.04.5 and 2.04.6 For a description of the geology of the area, please refer to the "Probable Hydrologic Consequence of Mining" section of this document. The geology sections in the permit application can be found in Section 2.04.6 and in Exhibit R. Climatological Information - Rule 2.4.8 The climatological information in the permit application can be found in Section 2.04.8. The Wilcox Ranch Station is the climatic data station closest to the Blue Ribbon Mine. This station is approximately three miles southeast of the Blue Ribbon Mine, just east of Bowie, on the north side of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. At Paonia, the climate is semi-arid with annual precipitation averaging about 15 inches per year. Mean annual precipitation increases with elevation, reaching over a0 inches per year near the summit of Crater Peak. The May-September precipitation is 5 inches for the lowlands and 13 inches for the mountain peaks. This indicates that snowfall patterns play an important part in determining the hydrolog. of the area. Temperature extremes at Paonia have ranged from -28°F in Jamua•i to 100°F during July and August. The average temperature is approximarv~: 49°F. Snowfall averages 58 inches per year.