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December 23, 1999 Page !6 • 3.~ SURFACE WATER MONITORING LOCATIONS AND PROCESS The surface water monitoring plan includes monitoring the discharge and water quality of Piceance Creek and springs and seeps (if any) a[ the Piceance Site, and Parachute Creek at [he Parachute (lower plant) Site. There are no other known sources of surface water at the Piceance Site or Parachute Sife except ephemeral streams. Precipitation will also be gauged at the Piceance Site since run-off and infiltration contribute to surface water and groundwater, respectively. Sampling procedures will follow the requirements listed in Appendix C. 3.1 Piceance Crcek Monitoring Piceance Creek monitoring will include discharge and water quality monitoring, a tracer dilution study, and crest stage monitoring. Piceance Creek will be monitored at two existing USGS stream gauging stations. One of the gauging stations is located downstream of Ryan Gulch and upstream of the Piceance Site. The other gauging station is located on Piceance Creek near the confluence with the White River, downstream of the site. The baseline discharge and water quality of Piceance Creek, in the vicinity of the site, has • been established by the USGS. The surface water stations will be sampled four times per year using the current USGS water quality schedule, during both the baseline period and the operations period. Discharge will be monitored continuously during these quarterly monitoring events. Piceance Creek samples will be analyzed for the parameters listed in Table S. The metals and nutrients listed in Table 5 will be analyzed for the dissolved portion for compatibility with the existing database for Piceance Creek. The discharge and water quality samples will be collected by the USGS, according to their established procedures. A tracer dilution study will be conducted along the section of Aiceance Creek that borders the Piceance Site. The USGS will conduct the study. The tracer dilution study is an investigation of groundwater inputs and the associated water quality along Piceance Creek. This information would provide baseline data on diffuse inputs to Piceance Creek. The data would be collected at base stream flow. In part, the purpose of the study is to evaluate whether the American Soda alluvial monitoring wells are properly located. Crest stage monitoring stations will be installed by the USGS at Piceance Creek adjacent to the upstream and downstream monitoring wells. The crest stage gages will be tied into the • datum of the alluvial wells, and will provide information on water levels in the observation wells and peak stream flow in Piceance Crcek. Agapito Associates. Inc.