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• 2.04.7(3) Alternative Water Supply Wormation <br />The adjudicated water rights and water wells around the permit area drawn from the <br />Colorado State Engineer's Master Listings are listed on Table 4-4. The locations of <br />these water rights and wells are shown on Map 4-3. None of the four Springs shown <br />on the map and previously described is adjudicated. <br />The extent to which the mining operation will affect ground and surface water sources <br />is discussed below. Spring No. 1 flows in response to precipitation and, therefore, is <br />not a dependable water supply. Spring No. 2 is probably associated with the Florida <br />River Basin. However, the Animas River Basin, is the basin which encompasses the <br />permit area. Water quality analyses of Spring No. 3 and Spring No. 4 indicate the <br />water is not acceptable for beneficial use other than industrial use (See Table 4-7). <br />The marked strike and dip of the coal seams to be extracted are such that the nearest <br />adjudicated wells are not hydraulically connected with the coal seams or any of the <br />overlying strata to be affected by mining (See Section 2.04.7(1)). <br />The surface water rights upstream of the confluence of Carbon Junction Canyon with <br />the Animas River will not be affected by the project. Furthermore, the Animas River <br />is not "over" appropriated. Infiltration and subsequent groundwater recharge will <br />• decrease during the period of mining and increase after reclamation in the pit area due <br />to increased porosity (See Section 2.05.6(3)). Surface runoff will increase in the short <br />term due to woody plant density reduction and consequently, shorter times of <br />concentration of runoff volumes but will be offset to some extent by slope reduction <br />(the reduction of impervious rock surface on the disturbed area as a whole) and <br />particularly on the terraced sandstone in the northwest portion of the pit (See <br />Reclamation Plan). The NPDES Permit requirements will ensure the maintenance or <br />improvement of local water quality during the mine life, and sediment ponds will <br />protect the basin from excess erosion preceding bond release. <br />2.04.8 Climatolot>icallnformation <br />The climate of the Durango area is considered moderate without extremes of high and <br />low temperatures and only periodic strong winds. Appendix 4-4 discloses the mean <br />temperatures, precipitation, prevailing winds, freeze data, etc. <br />Precipitation and temperature tables have been extrapolated from publications of the <br />Climatological Data Annual Summaries, Colorado 1951-1980, National Climatic <br />Center (NOAA). Wind surveillance summary was calculated from the Durango, <br />Colorado National Weather Service Station daily recordings. <br /> <br />Technical Revision 09 (v 1.0) 414 Revised 3/1998 <br />