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• The mine facilities will be constructed and operated on the southern side of the Colorado River above the active channel. These facilities include portals, preparation plant, and support facilities. Mining will occur within the Grand Hogback and follow the hogback east and west from the portal. The Colorado River will not be undermined during operations. No surface disturbance will occur in the Alkali Creek watershed during construction or operation. Underground mining will occur within the watershed but the creek will not be undermined. Alkali Creek is tributary to the Colorado River just west of New Castle. Alkali Creek has a drainage area of about 15 square miles and has an elevation range of 8300 feet along the ridge of the Grand Hogback to 5520 feet to the north. vegetation includes mountain shrub and pinyon-juniper communities on the mid to upper slopes of the hogback. Irrigated pasture lands are found along • Alkali Creek. This agricultural use significantly affects the quantity and quality of the water in Alkali Creek. Flows on Alkali Creek are greatly affected by impoundments and diversions. Porter Reservoir, in the headwaters of the drainage, provides a somewhat uniform flow year round. Several impoundments have been constructed in the main channel of Alkali Creek which regulate flow. Diversion structures below these impoundments are used to flood irrigate the pasture lands. It has been observed that the entire flow of Alkali Creek has been diverted for irriga- tion during certain times of the year. Alkali Creek has been impacted by man's activities because of the easy-access from Garfield County Road #319 which parallels much of Alkali Creek. Large amounts of debris have been dumped into Alkali Creek. This debris includes wrecked cars, appliances and general household waste. This debris, most likely, lowers water quality • and is visually unpleasant. NCEC - Coal Ridge #1 3-39 ASC/1145/900301