Laserfiche WebLink
C• Tables 7 through 12 tabulate the percentage of milliequivalents per liter of major ions <br />and total dissolved solids (TDS) for each well sampled in 1986. Historical data is <br />provided for comparison purposes. It is important to noto here that percent anions for <br />1981 and 1982 are not tabulated since the program that generates these tables cannot use <br />the format in which this old data exists. In addition to a discussion of general water <br />types, any parameter which exceeds potentially applicable water quality criteria will be <br />discussed. This criteria list is found on Table 13. <br />1. Alluvium <br />Well CW-532, located further upstream on Little Grassy Creek, displays a sodium sulfate <br />type water. Although water type has not changed, TDS at this well has increased since <br />1981. This is due to mining upgradient of here. Progressing down valley, the alluvium <br />picks up spoils water discharge exemplified by calcium replacing sodium as the major <br />cation at well GW-56-A. TDS increases as one progresses downstream, in addition to <br />progressing with time. Well GW-531-A2 is downstream of the discharge of the Wedge <br />Impoundment. It is also a calcium sulfate type water. TDS fluctuates up and down from <br />year to year, implying that the baseflon TDS has stabilized and that changes are due to <br />~. annual changes in precipitation. Manganese concentrations at all three wel}s, especially <br />in the fall, exceed the irrigation standard of 0.2 mg/1. This appears to be of little <br />significance because there is no irrigation being employed {n the Little Cressy Creek <br />basin. <br />The one well completed in the Grassy Creek alluvium, GW^533, has a calcium sulfate type <br />water. TDS has remained relatively stable here, and is less than concentrations observed <br />upstream on Little Grassy Creek due to dilution by undisturbed upper Cressy Creek alluvial <br />water. Manganese here also exceeds irrigation standards; however, no irrigation is <br />currently in practice in this basin. <br />In the Fish Creek tributary (Cow Camp Creek) alluvium, water quality is measured at one <br />well, CW-546. Its water quality is notably different from other alluvial water in the <br />Seneca Mine area. This well exhibited a high TDS concentration prior to mining in the <br />vicinity (2,068 mg/1 in November 1982). In 1986, its average TDS had increased to 2,677 <br />mgll. Th{s is considerably higher than the 2,130 mg/1 average TDS observed immediately <br />upstream at the 004 pond discharge. Natural spring d5 is located upstream of the 004 pond <br />~,'\•. in the same alluvium and is most likely undisturbed by mining. Although ~i is floe is low, <br />it has a very high TDS of 14,200 mg/1 and is also a magnesium sulfate type water. <br />18 <br />