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2.i R:r~se and Score <br />The p~.i:pose of the aquatic field program was to make ar. assessment of <br />se'_ected aspects o` the existing aquatic system in the vicinity of the Orchard <br />Valley Coal Wine. The resent report presents data gathered during October <br />1975 through September, 1977, or approximately a one-year program. <br />°mphasis o£ the report is on describing the existing conditions o£ the <br />aquatic system; there has beer. no attempt to evaluate or assess actual or <br />totential effects of the mine in this technical report.* Hoxever, the choosing <br />of the limits of the Study Area and the particular sampling sites xas made xith <br />the viex of providing data ar, areas that are likely to be directly or in- <br />directly affected by construotior. or operation of the mine. Data provided x111 <br />aid in evaluating these effects, alttia:gh evaluations are made in a separate <br />retort, The present study ma}' also p_*ovide the basis of developing the need <br />for and scope of a long-range monitoring program. <br />• The specific objectives of the aeuatic..~o~'am xe=e to assess generzl <br />hab_tat, xater quality, species composition. and relatire abundance of macro- <br />benthic and fish 1L°e, an3 to make a eualitative assessment of ~•oductivity <br />and uniqueness o: these o-oups. The specific z=ear considered in the field <br />study were a s~retc:^. of the Forth Fork o£ approximate l3. 1.5$ miles from <br />the highway 1°7 'r'idge crossi-ig into ?ao_S.a to a few hundred yards above <br />the railroad spur ~,sestle; and Stevens Culch from its mouth to an area <br />aoove any dra'-fie ~-on :wine act_vities. '!'here a_rezs are illustrated in <br />Map 1. <br />*See Thorne 2nd Quarterly Report <br />• <br />2-2 <br />