PERMFILE113074

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 3/10/2004
• Doc Name: Elk Creek Coal Lease Hydrologic Reassessment Study
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 2.04-E4 Part 13
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

the 2003 information. See the attached CDMG permit Map 2.04-M2 -Regional Geology/Hydrology for
the updated locations of identified sites.
Field parameter information, such as an estimate of surface acres, storage in acre/ft, flow, pH,
conductivity, temperature, spring flows, etc. were obtained. No particulaz anomalies with respect to the
field parameters were encountered. pH was in the typically basic 7.35 - 10.15 range, conductivity was
in the 100 to 460 uS range. Digital photographs of the sites were taken. Where appropriate, both early
and ]ate season photographs were obtained to aid in the documentation of the seasonality of the
resources.
The sites can be summarized by the following four categories. The first category, SITES UNDER
WHICH PLANNED COAL MINING ACTIVITIES WILL OCCUR provides the "short list" of sites
that would be undermined by coal mining activities.
1. HYDROLOGIC RESOURCES UNDER WHICH PLANNED COAL MINING ACTIVITIES
WILL OCCUR.
A number of Hydrologic resources identified in the Elk Creek lease are located above areas scheduled
for coal mining activities. Surface ownership, overburden thickness and the yeaz during which coal
mining activities aze scheduled to occur are summarized by the following table.
Site Name Surface Ownership Overburden Thickness Yeaz Mined

ECSP-2 Private 2400 2011
ECSP-3 Private 2325 2010
ECP-4 Private --2200 2009
ECP-5 USFS 2500 2012
ECP-6 USFS -2500 2012
ECP-7,9,13 USFS 2500 2012
ECP-20 Private 1600 2004
ECP-32 Private 2500 2012
ECP-33 USFS 2300 2011
ECP-36 Private -2300 2010
ECSP-37 Private --2700 2013
Bear Creek mixed 200 - 1400 2003 - 2009
Only three ponds (ECSP 2, 3 and 37) of this group were found to be fed by a spring that had sufficient
flow to support water impoundment into the summer and fall months. These three ponds could be
considered "high vatue" hydrologic resources. These ponds are used for livestock watering and wildlife
use.
None of the other eight ponds or pond complexes, including those located on Federal lands, had
evidence of spring fed flows and were all dry by September. The fact that there is also no evidence of
significant riparian wetland vegetation around these sites suggests these ponds had historically dried up
during the summer months. The hydrologic function of these eight ponds appeazs primarily to impound
surface runoff during spring snowmelt and significant rainfall events.
. The cluster of ponds referred to as ECP-7, 9 and 13 also exhibit evidence of historic beaver activity,
however, no recent activity was apparent. There is simply a lack of hydrologic resources to support
these ponds after water collected from snowmelt has dried up.