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Richard D. Lamm <br />Governor <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />David H. Getches, Executive Director <br />MINED LAND RECLAMATION DI1 <br />DAVID C. SH ELTON, Director <br />DATE: July 2, 1986 <br />T0: Tom Gillis / <br />FROM: Steve Renner <br />RE: Annual Hydrologic Report, Munger and McClane Canyon Mines <br />As per your request, I have reviewed the annual hydrologic report for the <br />Munger and McClane Canyon mines, submitted by Salt Creek Mining Company. <br />Data and discussion concerning the McClane Canyon mine indicate that water <br />recharges the coal seam via adjacent faults whose surface traces are crossed <br />by ephemeral drainages. The coal and the overburden appear to be at least <br />partially saturated. The grabben in which the mine is developed, may be <br />acting as an isolated aquifer being separated from the adjoining formation by <br />the parallel faults. The amount of water which flows into the mine appears to <br />be decreasing with time as the grabben is being locally dewatered. There is <br />no known adjudicated use of this water, therefore dewatering of the grabben is <br />not a significant impact. <br />Between April, 1985 and March, 1986, 620,600 gallons of water were discharged <br />from the McClane Canyon mine. Of this, 19,000 gallons were exported to the <br />Munger Canyon mine and 590,100 gallons were discharged to East Sa]t Creek. <br />The 590,100 gallons is a small percentage of the yearly flow of East Salt <br />Creek. Furthermore, this water is not discharged directly to East Salt Creek, <br />but into the McClane Canyon drainage, where it percolates into the <br />alluvial/colluvial material, and eventually discharges to the creek. <br />Therefore, it is not thought that the mine discharge in any way degrades the <br />quality of East Salt Creek. <br />The Munger Canyon mine, situated on the horst, or upthrown block, does not <br />induce inflows from the surrounding formation. Therefore, the impact to the <br />ground water regime is negligable at this location. <br />In summary, it appears from the report that the affects of mining to the <br />prevailing hydrologic regime are minimal. At this time, no revisions to the <br />hydrologic monitoring program are warranted, <br />If you require further assistance, please contact me. <br />SR/ddt <br />cc: Michael S. Savage <br />1895E <br />423 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. (303) 866-3567 <br />• iii iiiiiiiiuiuiii <br />