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<br />80CW88
<br />in Rio Blanco County. The four mines•involved in this Plan for
<br />Augmentation are the Northern No. 1 (FF-Seam), the Northern No. 2
<br />(P-Seam), Northern No. 3 (J-Seam, and Rienau No. 2 (G-Seam). The
<br />Northern No. 1 and Rienau No. 2 exist presently; the Northern No. 2
<br />and P]o.'3 mines are proposed. The four mines lie under approximate
<br />4,700 acres in Sections 16, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34,
<br />Township 2 North, Range 93 West of the 6th P.M.
<br />b. The Applicant presently uses water for dust suppression
<br />within the mines, at the load-out facilities and on the mine roads.
<br />In addition, the Applicant uses water for mining, domestic purposes,
<br />fire fighting, irrigation, reclamation and other beneficial purposes
<br />associated with mining coal. Although the precise figures cannot
<br />be determined for several years, hydrologists estimate that the
<br />Applicant may require 140 acre feet per year by 1990. Consumptive
<br />use resulting from the uses has been estimated to be a maximum of
<br />27.9 acre feet per year. - --
<br />c. The Applicant's undergound mining-operations may require
<br />dewatering, and the dewatering may interrupt ground water flows in-
<br />the coal seams and overlying sandstones. Depletions to the stream
<br />may occur because groundwater may be intercepted during the mining ..
<br />process which will not be discharged immediately to Curtis Creek,.
<br />and becuase some of the surface flow of Curtis Creek may percolate'
<br />into the coal seams through the streambed. Dfaximum streamflow
<br />depletions from operations described in this paragraph are estimated
<br />to be 6.8 acre feet during the irrigation season. -
<br />d. During the process of mining, the water percolating into.
<br />the mines will exceed calculated stream depletions. Mine water
<br />inflow in excess of stream depletions will be pumped back to
<br />sedimentation ponds and discharged to Curtis Creek to augment the
<br />stream flow. To offset the possible impact of Applicant's coal
<br />mining operations on the flows of Curtis Creek. after mining has
<br />ceased, the Applicant has applied for storage rights in six (6) ,
<br />reservoirs. Three of the reservoirs will divert part of the flow
<br />of Curtis Creek and its tributaries into storage during the winter
<br />and during the spring run-off when there is no call on Curtis Creek..
<br />The stored water will be released to the stream system to meet
<br />valid downstream calls at rates calculated to be equal to or greater
<br />than the calculated consumptive use. Water will be released from
<br />the reservoirs to replace depletions that may continue after mining
<br />has been completed, as may be necessary to meet valid downstream
<br />senior calls.
<br />e. The water rights to be used to replace depletions are:...~~
<br />~•;~•(1) Jensen No. 1 Reservoir, 19 A.F., appropriation date;=:
<br />of July 1, 1974, decreed in Case No. 79CW390; located in the S~-of
<br />Section 16, T. 2 N., R. 93 W. -. ._ - - ~-
<br />(2) Jensen No. 2 Reservoir,, ~yA.F.,~ appropriation date
<br />of May 1, 1978, decreed in Case No. 79CW341, located in the E~ of .
<br />Section 20, T. 2 N., R. 93 W. -~
<br />(3) Jensen No. 3 Reservoir, 1 A.F.; appropriation date'
<br />_of ,7anuary 1, 1960;~3ecreed in Case No. SOCW13, located in the•:SE;
<br />of Section.20, T. 2 N-., . R. 93 W... _ __
<br />• ::(4) Northern.Pond A, 0.63 A.F., appropriation date~of-• '•~"~
<br />March 22, 1979, decreed in Case No. 79CW343, located in~•the SE:~of~.
<br />Section 29, T. 2 N., R. 93 W.
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<br />.(5) Northern Pond B,.3.17 A.F., appropriation date of-
<br />P7arch 22, 1979, decreed in Case No. 79Ch'344, located in.the SE:~of~~~,
<br />Section 29, T. 2 N.,. R. 93 W. ..
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