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COfJ V WlYTIOM <br />• \ . <br />That is, the strata at the axis (the "bottom") of the syncline <br />become progressively deeper to the west and north along the axis. <br />The Big Bottom Syncline can thus be considered as an~elongate <br />bowl with an open end to the northcaest, and the bocal is tilted <br />toward the open end. This configuration plays an important role <br />in the flow of ground water in the area. <br />2.2 Objectives of Piezometer Studies <br />Coal ash and scrubber sludge disposed in the Trapper <br />Mine may cause contaminants to enter ground water below the <br />mine. As determined previously (GR-R-402), an important unanswer- <br />ed question at the Trapper fiine site is the ground-caater pressure <br />and flow relationships among the various aquiferous strata of the <br />Upper Unit of the ?•Tilliams Fork Formation. Previous studies have <br />indicated that ground caater flows docandip and parallel to bedding <br />(WO-155). If this is so, then all ground *,rater from the mine <br />.l area flows nortn tocaard the syncline axis, and then northwest <br />along the axis of the syncline. If all flow is parallel to bed- <br />ding, ground caa~er from the mine area would pass several hundred <br />feet below the Yampa River. However, indirect evidence indicates <br />that there may be a significant component of cross-bedding flow in <br />an up-section direction (GR-R-402). Up-section flow would mean <br />that at least some of the ground-water could eventually emerge <br />in the Yampa River. <br />One part of the hydrogeological investigation (Subtasks <br />4.6 and 4.7) caas a piezometer study of ground-water levels at <br />i <br />various depths in the vicinity of the Trapper Mine and the Yampa <br />River. <br />In the Big Bottom area near the Yampa River, three <br />piezometer wells were constructed at one site. These were <br />•~ <br />2-3 <br />