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4.05 Development of Spring at the Rienau #2 Reclaimed Area A small spring existed on the Rienau #2 mine area but was covered up during backfilling, grading and topsoil replacement of the area. The spring was located at the bottom of the steep slope, immediately south of the gulch that divides the reclaimed area. The surface owners have requested that the spring be re-installed for future grazing, which is the approved post-mining land use. A diagram of the spring installation is shown on the following~e. The location of the spring is also shown on the revised post-mining topographic map for the site in Exhibit M-3. The spring is extremely close to the surface and should only require a very minor excavation to produce flow. The total excavation area is expected to be no greater than 0.1 acres. The spring wi{I be developed by installing a 4 inch diameter perforated pipe into the discharge area. The pipe will be backfilled with sand followed by the original excavated material. The pipe will lead to the flat area near the southern end of the reclaimed area, where the land is flat enough to install a small water tank of no greater than 12 feet diameter and 3 feet height. The tank will have a small v-notch in the top to guide any overflow into the collection ditch which leads to the culvert underneath the Highway and eventually to Curtis Creek. Below the notch, 2" diameter gravel will be placed to prevent erosion at the base of the tank and also in the short reach between the tank and the collection ditch. No aspect of the reclamation will be adversely affected by the installation of the spring. A number of key points are discussed below: 1) the outlet of water from the spring should actually enhance the slope stability of the reclaimed area. Although the spring is not directly in the area of the main reclaimed slopes, any water removed from the ground of the area will enhance the cohesion of the natural and backfilled ground. 2) the expected flow from the developed spring is 2 to 3 gallons per minute. This flow will enter the collection ditch which enters the culvert under Highway 13 and leads to CuRis Creek. 3) the spring will enhance the post-mining land use of grazing, although the site and spring will not be used for grazing until the vegetation has met the standards of the Division for final bond release. If the landowner desires that the spring be put in prior to full bond release, a small three- strand barbed wire enclosure will be installed around the water tank to dischrage grazing of the area. • Revised 8/16/96 M,-I~~z-7