Laserfiche WebLink
West Elk Mine <br />• 2. Flow measurement estimates, water quality sampling and/or field water quality parameter <br />measurements at springs above the F Seam, springs above the $ Seam in the North Fork <br />drainage, springs/ponds in the Jumbo Mountain area, springs in or below the F Seam in the <br />North Fork drainage and springs above the E Seam in the Dry Fork drainage. <br />This monitoring program information has been used to estimate the PHCs from both a quantity and <br />quality standpoint. Surface water hydrologic consequences are described in this section for the <br />following: <br />• Streams (surface drainages) <br />• Springs <br />• Reservoirs and stock ponds <br />• Wetlands <br />• Water rights <br />• Mine water system, including North Fork water, sanitary water, mine water, and runoff from <br />disturbed azeas <br />Streams <br />Stream hydrology and sediment transport have been conceptually quantified for the permit azea by <br />WWE and Mr. Ernest Pemberton, P.E. Mr. Pemberton was formerly the Chief Engineer for the <br />U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Sedimentation and River Hydraulic Section. He is a respected expert <br />in the field. <br />Exhibit 55 was prepared to address drainage basin characteristics and evaluate the potential <br />effects due to mining in the Apache Rocks and Box Canyon permit areas. Since mining <br />activities are still active in these areas, Exhibit 55 has been retained in the permit. However, <br />the following text focuses on the drainages in the South of Divide permit area, which is also <br />found in Exhibit SSA, but includes key findings of Exhibit 55 for the Apache Rocks and Box <br />Canyon permit areas. <br />Background on Stream Channels and Hvdrologv <br />The Box Canyon and Apache Rocks permit revision azeas include a portion of Sylvester Gulch, Box <br />Canyon, the unnamed drainage west of Box Canyon, and a tributory to Raven Gulch. <br />Approximately 1,080 acres of the Apache Rocks permit revision azea is located within the Dry Fork <br />of Minnesota Creek basin. That portion also includes parts of the Horse Gulch, Pond Gulch, and <br />Slide Gulch drainages, as well as two unnamed drainages east of Horse Gulch. The Apache Rocks <br />permit revision azea totals 2,502 acres and 1,424 acres (57 percent) are in the North Fork drainage. <br />All of the 1,440 acres within the Box Canyon permit revision and 690 acres in the West Flatiron <br />area are within the North Fork basin. <br />Nearly all of the South of Divide permit area is located within the Minnesota Creek drainage <br />basin. The exception is the small portion that extends east through Section 35, which is part <br />. of the Deep Creek drainage basin. In fact, of the 8.18 square miles that make up the permit <br />revision area, approximately 5.18 square miles (or 63 percent) is located within the Dry Fork <br />2.05-187 Revised June 2005 PRIO, January 2006, March 1006; Rev. May 1006 PRIO <br />