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Colorado Yampa Coal Company <br />• <br />A Subsidiary of Getty Coal Company <br />September 10, 1982 <br />Dis. Sandra Emrich <br />Mined Land Reclamation <br />423 Centennial Building <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Dear Sandy: <br />eox nztzs <br />Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 <br />(303) E79-3800 <br />Re: Aquatic monitoring <br />CJ <br />An evaluation of the aquatic monitoring program presently being <br />conducted at Colorado Yampa Coal Company (CYCC) under the require- <br />ments of Permit 79-177, page 780-103, has been made by the Colorado <br />Division of i9ildlife (CDO't1~). It was determined, because of the nature <br />of the water system and the kinds of data being generated, that the <br />information derived from the monitoring program was not consequential. <br />It is, therefore, the desire of CYCC that the aquatic monitoring <br />program required under Permit 79-177 be terminated and that this letter <br />might serve as a minor modification to Permit 79-177, allowing the <br />rescission of the monitoring program. <br />As requested in your telephone conversation of September 9, 1952, <br />with Terrell Johnson, Environmental Services, Getty Coal Department, <br />he has prepared the following brief summary of the aquatic monitoring <br />evaluation. <br />Under the terms of Permit 79-177, the sampling program consists <br />of yearly monitoring of (1) macrophytes, (2) fish, and (3) benthic <br />invertebrates at each of twelve sampling sites. <br />hlacrophyte monitoring has consisted of mapping aquatic macrophytes <br />along a 50 to 100 section of stream at each site. Our aquatic consul- <br />tants have concluded that comparison of aquatic macrophyte growth <br />distribution between survey periods is inconclusive. This is because <br />of natural variations in stream flow and temperature which can change <br />yearly monitoring results. Also, the accuracy and detail of the <br />established mapping procedure does not allow for a confident assessment <br />of alterations or impacts until at least 750 or more of the macrophytes <br />have disappeared. <br />Fish monitoring has consisted of makim~ one pass with backpack <br />eleotro-fis~no gear through 25 to 1007,] sections at each sampling site <br />where conditions permit. The remaining sites have been sampled by <br />dip netting when •.vater is present. Captured fish are then identified, <br />enumerated, and released. Fish abundance within the study area creeks <br />has been extremely variable. It is suspected that the annual variability <br />is related primarily to natural alterations in habitat (undercut banks, <br />pool depths, overhanging brush) and the intermittent nature of creeks <br />being sampled. Because of these factors, it is difficult to accurately <br />determine the influence of mining on fish populations. <br />