Laserfiche WebLink
-45- <br />The total estimated water consumed by all of the mines presently <br />operating in the North Fork Drainage Basin is 556 acre-feet per year. <br />This is approximately 0.14% of the mean annual flow of the river. This <br />indicates that the total coal mining activities within the North Fork of <br />the Gunnison Drainage Basin has a very minor impact on the quantity of <br />water available in the Basin. <br />Cwnulative Impacts of the Blue Ribbon and Somerset Mines <br />Since all anticipated mining at the Blue Ribbon Mine is within the <br />Hubbard Creek drainage basin, the most significant cumulative impacts of <br />all anticipated mininy will be the combined impacts of the Blue Ribbon <br />Mine and Somerset Mine on Hubbard Creek and on the downstream water users. <br />Data collected for the Somerset Mine estimates the annual yield in <br />Hubbard Creek to be 29,700 acre-feet/year (8% of the annual yield of the <br />North Fork of the Gunnison). The total depletion of the flow in Hubbard <br />Creek due to the combined impacts of the Somerset and Blue Ribbon mines <br />may be 0.09 cfs (39 gpm or 56,160 ypd), 0.07 cfs (31 gpm or 44,640 gpd) <br />coming from inflow measured in the Somerset Mine adjacent to or under <br />Hubbard Creek, and O.U2 cfs (8 gpm or 11,520 gpdj coming from withdrawal <br />of water by the Blue Ribbon Mine. This total depletion amounts to about <br />U. 18% of the averaye stream flow (49.3 cfsj and 3.9% of the low flow <br />(2.23 cfs) in Hubbard Creek as measured above the Blue Ribbon Mine. <br />Cumulative Hydroloyic Effects on Ground Water <br />and Surface Water Resources - Finding <br />An assessment of the probable hydrologic consequences of the proposed <br />mining operation and an assessment of the probable cumulative impact of <br />all anticipated mining in the general area on tl~e hydrologic balance has <br />been made. Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(c), the Division finds that the <br />proposed Hawk's Nest mining operation has been designed to prevent <br />material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the proposed permit <br />area. <br />