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2.04.7 Hydrology Information <br />• Groundwater <br />The valley walls along Coal Gulch have intersected several coal seams <br />and sandstone beds. The general direction of any minor groundwater flow <br />will follow the existing geological features in the general area. <br />Therefore, most of the groundwater would emerge in valley slopes as <br />seeps and springs. Any water discharged as a result of seeps and <br />springs is lost on the valley slopes or dries up during the later summer <br />months. The geology of the general area is discussed in detail in <br />Section 2.04.6. <br />The stratigraphy of the permit and adjacent area is highly <br />lenticular which inhibits the formation of any aquifers containing water <br />of useable quantities. The most continuous strata in the permit area <br />are the coal seams. <br />The only strata which might be classified as a potential aquifer in the <br />• general area is the Lightner Creek colluvium material found north of the <br />permit area. This colluvium material probably receives much of its <br />water from snowmelt during the springtime and is able to store it in the <br />colluvial material. Discharge would be both downstream and into <br />Lightner Creek depending on the subsurface water level in the colluvial <br />material. <br />Although there are no aquifers with useable quantifies of groundwater <br />within the permit and adjacent area, some minor amounts of surface water <br />undoubtedly percolates into the strata. Given the small upland area <br />surrounding the permit area, most snow or rainfall probably runs off. <br />That small amount of water that does infiltrate the strata probably <br />works its way through the lenticular strata of the permit and adjacent <br />area. Since underground mining has occurred in this region since the <br />early 1900's, any water percolating through the strata will undoubtedly <br />find its way into underground workings and may eventually discharge to <br />• the surface. Also, it is possible that some of the groundwater that <br />percolates into the strata in the permit is undoubtly trapped in perched <br />water tables. <br />MAR 0 4 1966 <br />2.oy-/7 <br />