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Revision February 1982 The river flows southwestward until it joins the Gunnison River near Hotchkiss, Colorado. Flow is partially regulated by the Paonia Reservoir upstream of the permit area on Muddy Creek. Nine ephemeral creeks and gulches drain the permit area into the North Fork of the Gunnison River (Exhibit 2.04.5-A). All of the watersheds are very steep with high relief for such small watershed areas. Defined chan- nels have not been extensively developed due to the resistance of the Mesaverde sandstones. Ten to twenty foot drops over sandstone ledges are common. Dunrud (1916) noted that the drainages follow fracture systems in the underlining rock. These weaker areas due to the fracturing allow more drainage incision in comparison to erosion of undisturbed strata. Sanborn Creek, Coal Gulch, Hawk's Nest Creek, and Thompson Creek were named by the • USGS. Sardine Gulch, Hoopola Gulch, A Gulch, B Gulch, and C Gulch have been named on the old mine maps. Anthracite Creek has been gaged by the USGS at two different locations (Exhibit 2.04.5-A, Appendix XIII, Appendix XIV, and pp. 2.05-59, 60, 61). The limited quantity of data indicates an average annual flow of 206 cfs with a snowmelt regulated annual hydrograph. The highest discharge occurs in May or June due to snowmelt with a gradual decline through the summer and fall months. A minimum is reached in January and February. The highest peak discharge of 1680 cfs occurred on December 21, 1978. According to the old records, the creek has been as low as 1 cfs on several past occasions. The water quality of Anthracite Creek, as monitored by the USGS and WSC, at three locations (Exhibit 2.04.5-A, Appendix XIV) is an alkaline, • moderately hard, calcium-bicarbonate type with an average total dissolved solids concentration of 76.3 mg/1. The water is cold due to the 2.04-27~