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Two reservoirs are located within the Minnesota Creek <br />drainage. Minnesota Reservoir is located on the Dry <br />Fork. It has a decreed capacity of 1,285 acre-feet, <br />but the actual capacity may be closer to 500 acre- <br />feet. Beaver Reservoir is located on the East Fork of <br />Minnesota Creek and has an absolute decreed capacity of <br />1,620 acre-feet and a conditional decree of 522 acre- <br />feet. Both reservoirs store water for irrigation <br />purposes and are filled during spring runoff. They are <br />usually drained by late August or early September. <br />Water quality data have been collected at several sites <br />throughout the Minnesota Creek drainage. The data <br />indicate that these waters are of a calcium bicarbonate <br />type with relatively low total dissolved solids <br />concentration. <br />Minnesota Reservoir appears to have an effect on the <br />water quality characteristics of Dry Fork. Detention <br />of Dry Fork flows in the Minnesota Reservoir results in <br />a decrease in total suspended solids (TSS) or <br />turbidity, a slight increase in temperature, dissolved <br />oxygen (DO), and total dissolved solids (TDS). The <br />increase in TDS is most likely a result of evaporation <br />losses. There is a slight increase in alkalinity and, <br />as a result, a slight increase in pH. In all <br />likelihood, these changes are also a result of <br />evaporation losses. All of the changes in water <br />quality observed are what would be expected as a result <br />of impounding water in a shallow reservoir in a <br />semi-arid climate. <br />There are over a hundred (100> springs located <br />throughout the West Elk life-of-mine area. <br />Measurements indicate that spring flows generally <br />decrease from a high in the early summer to a low in <br />the fall. A number of the springs ar ephemeral, <br />indicating that their sources are small localized <br />aquifers <i.e. landslide deposits, colluvium, <br />lenticular sandstones, etc.). There are a total of <br />thirteen (13) decreed spring water rights on or near <br />the West Elk permit area. <br />Probable Hydrologic Consequences of the West Elk Mine <br />A determination of the probable hydrologic consequences of <br />the proposed mining and reclamation activities at the West <br />Elk Mine has been made by the applicant, and is found in <br />Section 2.05.6(3) of the permit application. The operator <br />has projected the impacts based on past experience, expected <br />rates of water use and water discharge, hydrogeologic <br />conditions associated with refuse disposal areas, location <br />and extent of surface disturbance and hydrogeologic <br />conditions associated with underground mine locations. <br />-35- <br />