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3.2.5 Surface and Ground Water (Application, Sec 2.04.5, para 2, page 39-40) <br />Because of the low relief and deep, well drained soils, there is virtually no surface runoff. No <br />streams, springs or seeps exist in the area. All water flows subsurface through aeolian deposits <br />to Ennis Draw, ana topographic swale (ephemeral drainage) located along the eastern boundary <br />of the permit area. Ennis Draw appears to be a complex, braided, ancient steam bed that has <br />been covered by windblown sand. It discharges several miles to the north into Box Elder <br />Creek. <br />Ground water moves laterally toward the northeast, and apparently discharges into the sands <br />and stream deposits in Ennis Draw. <br />At the time the mine was originally permitted, ground water in neither the coal nor overburden <br />was known to provide a water supply for any purpose in the vicinity of the mine. Since that <br />time, ground water is being drawn for industrial uses at the mine, and a number of other wells <br />have been drilled in the vicinity of the mine (review of State Engineer Records). However, no <br />adverse impact from the mine is expected, due to the geologic and hydrologic conditions of the <br />site (findings assessment). Stipulation Number 31 is issued in this renewal to update the <br />Application (to current conditions) with regard to Rules 2.04.7(1)(b) and 2.04.7(4)(a). <br />3.2.6. Climate (Permit, Sec 2.04.8, pages 65 - 71) <br />The Keenesburg mine site is situated in an area which has a "continental" type of climate, <br />characterized by low relative humidity, a large amount of sunshine, light rainfall, moderately <br />high winds, and large daily range in temperature. The average annual mean temperature is <br />48.4° F. The annual average precipitation ranges from 11.12 to 16.32 inches. Fort Lupton, <br />which has an average annual precipitation of 12.5 inches, provides the best estimate of <br />precipitation at the area (Findings, 1992).. <br />3.2.7 Vegetation, Wildlife and Land Use (Findings, Renewal 02, 1992; Sections 2.04.10, <br />2.04.11, and 2.05.3 of the Application) <br />The land is moderately to well stabilized by a sandsage-prairie sandreed plant association that <br />is used primarily for grazing by cattle in summer months. <br />Wildlife is limited to small rodents, primarily field mice, and birds with an occasional spotting <br />of raptors such as hawks or eagles. Deer and pronghorn are rare as are most higher order <br />vertebrates. There are no known endangered species in the area. Stipulation 29 is issued in <br />this renewal to update the Permit with regards to Threatened and Endangered Species. <br />The post mining use of the permit area is rangeland. The <br />premining soil capability class is VIe for <br />irrigated and non-irrigated Valent soils. Osgood soils have capability classes of IVe for <br />irrigated crops and VIe for non-irrigated conditions. The <br />16 18 February 1998 <br />