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2.3 General Samulin,~ Plan <br />The anuatic studies consider water quality, physical habitat, benthic <br />_= e, and fish. In general all of these factors z<e assessed at the same <br />stations or sites on the North Fork of the Gunnison and primarily water <br />_•~ality is assessed in Stevens Culch Creek. <br />Table 22 indicates the overall sampling plan from October 1976 through <br />September 19'77. <br />Station locations and sampling sites are indicated on Mdp 1. <br />Sampling station designations refer to general areas of stream section, while <br />s~oecific locations are labelled as sites. Sampling sites were chosen with the <br />:olio wing criteria in minds <br />:) to sample above and below construction areas; <br />2) to sample areas that are most likely to be affected by operation; <br />• 3) to sample basic existing habitat types; <br />~+) to sample areas that may be affected by activities or processes <br />not related to mining activities but are within the potential <br />area of impact of mining activities. <br />Sampling freeuencies and times were chosen based on the probable impor- <br />tance of the parameter, the availability of existing data on the parameter, and <br />the variations or cycles g•obable for that parameter. Based or. these criteria, <br />benthos and fish life were sampled three times dining the year, selected heavy <br />metals and other water chemistry parameters were sampled bimonthly and basic <br />water chemistry parameters were sampled weekly. These frequencies primarily <br />arply to the North Fork and lower Stevens Gulch Creek. The upper Stevens Gulch <br />was sampled as water was av211able,which was not frequent in the intermittent <br />stream. <br />,rte <br />u <br />2-7 <br />