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• I The two reaches where the ditch featured gains in flow are portions of the general "ridge-top" <br />segment of the West Lateral. The ditch channel bottom in this reach is largely fractured and <br />weathered sandstone, and likely results in relatively large amounts of seepage. This seepage, in <br />combination with localized intensive "flooding-type" irrigation, travels laterally through the shallow <br />soils and fractured sandstone eventually flowing back into the West Lateral slightly downstream. <br />The combination of fractured, weathered sandstone channel bottoms in the ditch and localized <br />"flood-type" irrigation along these two gaining reaches likely resulted in the measured gains in flow. <br />In two different phases during 2001 and 2003, Western Fuels placed the portion of the CCC west <br />lateral ditch that either traverses the mine property or parallels the permit boundary on the south <br />into a two different High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines. One is a 26" pipe and the other <br />is a 12" pipe. The larger diameter pipeline, which holds the majority of the ditch water and <br />functions as the replacement for the old, open CCC west lateral ditch, has its intake up ditch and <br />its discharge down ditch of the mine permit area. Accordingly, the ditch water in this pipe no longer <br />has any contact with mine land nor does the mine land have any contact with the ditch water. The <br />• 12" pipe line shares the same intake point has the 26" pipe <br />Map 2.04.7-1A shows the location of the HDPE pipelines. The location of the 26" pipe as shown <br />is temporary to allow mining under and adjacent to the permanent CCC west lateral ditch location. <br />Upon completion of reclamation regrading and seeding, the pipeline will be moved into an <br />approximation of the permanent ditch location. The 12" pipeline will be removed in the year 2006 <br />when the mining progress eliminates the need for irrigation water in advance of the mine. At the <br />conclusion of active mining and at the commencement of reclamation in the area the 12" serves, <br />irrigation water will be provided via a takeout on the 26" HDPE pipeline. <br />Water Quality. Surface water Site SW-N1041ies on the West Lateral irrigation ditchjust upstream <br />of the northeastern boundary of the New Horizon 2 mining area (see Map 2.04.7-1 A). Monitoring <br />of water quality at this site (when the ditch is on) was conducted on a monthly basis since July of <br />1986. Water quality data collected at this site since 1986 is contained in Appendix B of Attachment <br />2.04.7-5. <br />The irrigation water sampled over time at SW-N104 exhibited a calcium bicarbonate sulfate type <br />• <br />REVISED JULY 2006 2•()4.7-37 <br />