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<br />• <br />C~ <br />Hydrologic Monitoring Activities <br />The hydrologic monitoring program for the West <br />Elk Mine began in 1974 with the completion of <br />several groundwater observation wells. This prelim- <br />inary monitoring network waz expanded consider- <br />ably and in 1981, with the approval of the West <br />Elk Mine Mining and Reclamation plan (M and R <br />Plan), became the "approved" hydrology monitor- <br />ing program. <br />In 1984, 1987, and 1989 the program was revised. <br />The 1984 and 1987 revisions were made to more <br />efficiently monitor possible effects from mining <br />and provide data for future permitting. The 1989 <br />revision incorporated provisions for colletting "B" <br />seam baseline data and monitoring for potential <br />mining impacts in anticipation o[ the 1990 opening <br />of the "B" Seam. All revisions were approved by <br />the Colorado Mined land Reclamation Division <br />(CMLRD). <br />Surface Water Monitoring <br />Mountain Coal Company's (MCC) surface water <br />monitoring program includes nine monitoring <br />loptions (Table 1). The locations of these moni- <br />toring stations are shown on Fatribii I. Daily flow <br />estimates (including mean, maximum, and mini- <br />mum flows) for the five MCC gauges are summa- <br />rized in Appendix A. Except for two stations with <br />a few mechanical problems, the records are <br />complete. <br />Table 1 Summary of Surface Water 1lfonf- <br />toring Progrem at the West Elk <br />Mlne <br />Station Flow Water Quality <br />The 1991 Annual Hydrology Report contains the <br />following: <br />• Data from five continuous Oow monitoring <br />stations; <br />• Data from two U.S. Geological Survey <br />(USGS) continuous flow monitoring stations; <br />• Data from seasonal water quality sampling at <br />two surface water quality monitoring stations; <br />• Data from seasonal measurements of pH, <br />temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and <br />conductivity at the su stream gauging stations <br />in the Minnesota Creek Bazin and Sylvester <br />Gulch; <br />• Data from seazonal measurements of dis- <br />charge and water quality sampling at seven <br />springs issuing from or below the "F" seam <br />opal; <br />• Data from seasonal water level and water <br />quality measurements at 23 wells; and <br />• Data from measurements of mine water <br />discharges and mapping of inflow loptions. <br />Sywester Gulc4 Continuous 3 times per year <br />USGS/MCC <br />Gaging Station Continuous 3 times per year <br />Fast Fork Minnesota <br />Creel Flume Continuous 3 times per year <br />[.owv Dry Fort Flume Continuous 3 times per yar <br />Upper Dry Fork Flume Continuous 3 times per year <br />I~ck Creek Flume Continuous 3 times per year <br />North Fork Upper - 3 times per yrar <br />North Fork t.awer - 3 times per year <br />USGS North Fork <br />gaging station <br />near Somerset Cominuous - <br />Stilling wells at the five MCC gauges began freez- <br />ing in November. By the beginning of December, <br />all were frozen. Thawing began in February, but it <br />was mid-April before all stilling wells had thawed. <br />Debris buildup in the (lames was minimal during <br />1991 and no data were lost due to debris. <br />In addition to the five MCC monitoring locations, <br />flow data are available from two USGS monitoring <br />stations. These stations are Minnesota Creek <br />downstream of Dry Creek and the North Fork of <br />the Gunnison River near Somerset, Colorado. The <br />North Fork station is lopted approximately +/.- <br />