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. 2.oa.7 <br />groundwater monitoring results). The recharge -discharge relationship are <br />functions of geomorphology and seasonal variations in precipitation. <br />Recharge occurs because of percolation and infiltration in the <br />topographically lower stream drainages. Many of the discharges are also <br />associated with small scale mass wasting features, where presumably near <br />surface groundwater flow saturates the regolith, resulting in slump structures <br />with attendant springs and seeps and infiltrates back into the colluvium. <br />Cumulative discharge represents no total run-off, and most of the available <br />near surface groundwater is believed to be transpired by native vegetation. <br />Wymore (1974) states, "that natural plant associations have normal <br />evapotranspiration rates that far exceed normal precipitation during the <br />growing season, which effectively prevents deep percolation losses during <br />most of the year" for the Piceance and Yellow Creek watersheds of West- <br />Central Colorado. <br />The significance of spring discharges to maintaining streamflow is <br />nonexistent. The evapotranspiration demands of vegetation, small <br />• cumulative discharge, and gain-loss data presented by Brooks (1982) <br />suggests that streams traversing the permit area are losing flow, and spring <br />discharge does not enhance the ephemeral nature of streamflow. The <br />significance of springs to maintaining the land use patterns of the area is <br />described in section 2.05.6(6), subsidence. Generally, colluvial springs are <br />marginally suitable and small discharges preclude any agricultural or aquatic <br />use. <br />colluvial springs are typically characterized by total dissolved solids values <br />less than 1,000 mg/I and are differentiated from the bedrock water by lower <br />conductivity and TDS. The lower values suggest shorter residence time in <br />the regolith (refer to groundwater monitoring results). <br />The area of colluvial sediments are very limited in extent. None of the areas <br />can be classified as an alluvial valley floor as it does not meet the <br />requirements of irrigation, topographic, or geographic conditions. Except for <br />livestock and wildlife use of springs and ponds, there are no known uses of <br />groundwater in the permit and adjacent area. <br />• <br />PR-03 2.04 - 29 - 5/99 <br />