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• significantly under the influence of geologic structure, localized <br />depressions in the piezometric surface created by underground mine <br />workings, and variations in hydraulic gradient resulting from <br />recharge/discharge associated with perched groundwater reservoirs. <br />Generalized groundwater movement within the basin is illustrated by Figure <br />5, Regional Groundwater Flow Patterns. <br />As illustrated by the Regional Hydrogeologic Map, (Map 5), most of the <br />stratigraphic units within the groundwater basin outcrop in or adjacent <br />to the Arkansas River floodplain. Consequently, any limited amounts of <br />groundwater which flow under the overall influence of the hydraulic <br />gradient will normally discharge to the surface water system of the <br />Arkansas River. However, given limitations on groundwater movement, <br />groundwater contributions to Arkansas River flows are negligible with the <br />flow regime of the Arkansas River dominated by runoff from contributing <br />mountainous drainage areas to the north and west. <br />• Some localized discharge does occur from colluvial/alluvial terrace <br />deposits where these deposits are exposed by intersecting ephemeral <br />drainages. However, within the mine, loadout, and adjacent areas <br />groundwater volumes within the colluvial/alluvial deposits are limited by <br />the areal extent of these deposits, the semi-arid climate, and runoff, <br />evapotransportation and sublimation, such that discharge along the exposed <br />margins is so minor as to be imperceptible. In support of this statement, <br />no springs or seeps have been identified or observed in the mine, loadout, <br />or adjacent areas. Apparently, any groundwater discharge at the margins <br />of the colluvial/alluvial deposits is of such small volume and is <br />distributed over a sufficiently large area that it is almost irtmediately <br />lost to evaporation or utilized by vegetation in discharge areas. <br />Groundwater Use. Groundwater use within the hydrologic basin is generally <br />limited to large volume municipal use or small volume stock watering <br />applications. Existing well permits within the general area are <br />• predominantly associated with either wells pumping from abandoned and <br />2.04.7-10 <br />flooded mine workings in the Vermejo Formation or alluvial wells within <br />the Oak Creek drainage system. There are also four (4) low volume wells <br />which have been completed and permitted in the Raton Formation and <br />