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L~ rologic Monitoring Activities The hydrologic monitoring program for the West Elk Mine began in 1974 with the completion of several groundwater observation wells. This preliminary monitoring network was expanded consider- ably and in 1981, with the approval of the West Elk Mine Mining and Reclamation plan (M and R Plan), became the "ap- proved" hydrology monitoring program. In 1984, 1987, 1989, and 1993, the prograzn was revised. The 1984 and 1987 revisions were made to more efficiently monitor possible effects from mining and provide data for future permitting. The sampling "seasons" or "windows" are established as presented on Table 16 of the M and R Plan. These "seasons" include collection of samples on the rising limb of the hydrograph (Apri13 to May 13), hydrograph peak (April 21 to June 26), and full low flow (July 10 to October 8). The 1989 revi- sion incorporated provisions for collecting "B" seam baseline data and monitoring for potential mining impacts in anticipation of the 1990 opening of the "B" Seam. The 1993 revision resumed monitoring of water resources in Lone Pine Gulch. All revisions were approved by the Office of Mined Land Reclamation (OMLR). No changes in monitoring procedures occurred during Water Year (WY) 1993 (October 1, 1992, through September 30, 1993). Monitoring of nineteen additional springs and one well was initiated in WY 1993 to establish baseline information for the Jumbo Mountain expansion area. Surface water, springs, and groundwater are considered separately even though they are intemvined. The report attempts to show the interrelationships that are significant or could be expected. Surface Water Monitoring Mountain Coal Company's (MCC) WY 1993 surface water monitoring program included eight monitoring locations (Ta- ble 1). (Flow information from a station at the spillway of the Beaver Reservoir was Table 1 Summary of Surface Water Moui- toriug Program at the West Elk Mioe Station Flow Water Quality' Eut Fork Minnesota Crcek Flume Continuous' J limes per year Lower Dry Fork Minnesota Creek Flume Continuous' J times per year Upper Dry Fork Minnesota Creek Flume Continuous' J times per year Lick Creek Eume Continuous' J times per year USGS/MCC Minnesota Crcek Gaging Station Continuous' J times per year Sylvester Gulch Continuous' J times per year USGS/MCC North Fork Gunnison Upper Continuous' 3 times per year North Fork Gunnison Lower 3 times per year ' Appendix A 'Appendix C Appendix B 'Appendix D collected as a courtesy to the ditch company in WY 1993. This data is provided in Appendix A for general information, but is not referenced in this report as part of the monitoring program.) Of the seven stations where flow was mea- sured, five are MCC gages and two are United States Geological Survey (USGS) gages. The locations of these monitoring stations are shown on Exhibit 1. 2