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INTRODUCTION In compliance with Section 15(d)(1) of the Elk Creek Federal Coal Lease COC61357, Oxbow Mining, LLC (OMLLC) has developed a water replacement plan to replace the possible loss of water resulting from mining activity authorized under the lease. The final version of the plan is dated April 15, 2003. By letter dated May 13, 2003, the Bureau of Land Management approved the April 15, 2003 plan subject to seven {7) conditions. By letter dated May 16, 2003 OMLLC provided written concurrence with the conditions. The April 15, 2003 OMLLC Water Replacement Plan and May 13, 2003 BLM Condition # 2 committed OMLLC to conducting a field study (Phase II re-assessment) in June 2003 and in September 2003 to re-assess the hydrologic resources (including springs, seeps, ponds groundwater and surface water) located within the Elk Creek Lease area. The Federal agencies, the Colorado Division of Water Resources and effected landowners were to be notified by OMLLC to participate and provide consultation. BLM Condition # 3 also provided that after the re-assessment, OMLLC will explore and determine the minimum monitoring needs for selected {"high value") surface water resources associated with the Elk Creek Lease Area. Monitoring needs will be determined for selected "high value" seeps, springs and ponds and Hubbard, Elk and Bear Creeks overlying planned OMLLC coal mining activity. The purpose of the following information is to provide supplemental information to the Water ~ Replacement Pian in conformance with the noted BLM Conditions #2 and #3. \~ 2003 ELK CREEK HYDROLOGIC RE-ASSESSMENT. During 2003 a re-assessment of the Elk Creek coal lease tract hydrologic features was conducted. The purpose of the re-assessment was to 1) reassess the previous inventory of hydrologic resources; 2) identify and assess any previously unknown resources; 3) evaluate the seasonal variability of identified hydrologic resources; 4) identify any significant hydrologic resources of "high value" worthy of additional monitoring; 5) identify and establish any additional monitoring program(s) to monitor "injury" to "high value" hydrologic resources from coal mining activities. The general CDMG permit area encompassing the Elk Creek federal coal lease was the Limit of the investigation. A number of hydrologic resources have previously been identified in the area but because they are located outside of the area of concern, they were not assessed. To assess early seasonal flows, the site visit was conducted on June 10 and 16, 2003 and July 1, 2003. To assess ]ate seasonal flows the site visit was conducted on September 30, 2003. Representatives of the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Hotchkiss ranches participated in the project by attending one or more of the dates. Dan Hudson of the Hotchkiss ranch was particularly helpful because, as the livestock Foreman for the ranch, and he has run livestock in the area for many years and is quite familiar with the hydrologic features of the site. Due to schedule conflicts, representatives of the Colorado Divisions of Water Resources and Minerals and Geology were invited but could not participate. • A hand held Global Positioning System (GPS) was utilized to obtain coordinates for each of the sites. See the attached Table 1- OMLLC, Elk Creek Lease - 2003 -Hydrologic Assessment for a summary of