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Moro and Assoelaies, LC • Barren Member spring hydrographs are similar to those of hydrographs of springs issuing from unconsolidated sediments. These facts suggest [hat the groundwater storage capacities of groundwater sys[ents supporting Barren Member springs are commonly less than the groundwater storage capacities of groundwater systems supporting unconsolidated sediment springs. 5.5 Upper and Lower Coal Members of the Mesaverde Formation Only a few springs discharge from the Upper and Lower Coal Members of the Mesaverde Formation. Although some exhibit discharge characteristics similar to [hose in the overlying formations, two springs do not. The discharge rate of spring WCC-11 remains relatively constant between about 0.5 and 1.5 gpm and the spring has not been observed to be dry • (Figure 1 lh). It is significant to note that, although the period of record for the spring is only 4 years, this time span included the drought period of 1981-82. Spring WCC-24 has a relatively high discharge rate during both the fall and winter (Figure 1 1 i). The minirttum and maxintunt measured discharges during the 4 years of record are 25 and 108 gpm, respectively. The combined factors of continuous relatively high flow during drought conditions and the large difference between the minimum and maximum discharge rates suggest [hat the spring is supported by a groundwater system that ntay have two recharge sources. The measured low flow of the spring did occur during the drought period of 1981-82. The large variability in flow rates indicates that most of the spring discharge is due to discharge from a groundwater system having good hydraulic communication with . seasonal recharge. The large baseflow suggest that the spring is also the discharge location Characterization of Groundwater Systems in the Vicinity of the West Elk Mine, Somerset, Colorado 29 January 1999 Page 66