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<br /> <br />SURFACE WATER MONITORING <br />' One location on Foidel Creek in the vicinity of Mine 3 is monitored. USGS <br /> Site 09243900 (Site 900) is located approximately one-half mile upstream pf <br />' the confluence with Middle Creek. <br />i <br />d <br />USGS Si <br />0 <br />24 Two locations <br />l on Middle Creek are <br /> mon <br />tore <br />. <br />te <br />9 <br />3700 (Site 700) is <br />ocated approximately one mile <br /> upstream of the confluence with Foidel Creek. Site 29 is located <br />' approximately one mile downstream of the confluence with Foidel Creek. <br />Flows <br />' The streams are gaged at the two USGS sites and at Site 29. Due to the size <br />of the stream at the locations, they must be rated instead of using a more <br />' accurate controlled section such as a flume. The USGS maintains continuous <br />recorders at Sites 700 and 900. Plots of the historic flow measurements on <br />Foidel Creek are presented on Figures 13 and 14. Plots of the historic flow <br />' measurements on Middle Creek are presented on Figures 15 and 18. The flow <br />rate data is summarized on Table 14. The data shows the typical seasonal <br />variation with a rapid rise and fall of flow rates during spring runoff. <br />historically all three sites often did not flow during the fall and winter. <br />Drre to the effects of upstream-mining activities at other mines Sites 900 <br />and 29 have flowed year-round since 1985. Peak flows in Middle Creek are <br />' approximately double those in Foidel Creek. The 1987 water year was a <br />relatively low flow year due to the relatively low snow melt runoff. <br />' Water Quality <br />' lJater quality samples are collected at all the sites on a regular basis. <br />Tlie water quality summaries are presented on Tables 15 through 20. Plots of <br />' historic water quality data for Foidel and Middle Creek are presented on <br />Figures 19 and 20. The historic base levels of conductivity on Foidel <br />Cre_ek,, measured during spring runoff, was approximately 500-mg~l_~Since~ <br />' X1981 the base level has been increasing and is now approximately 700 to 1200 <br />\mmhos/cm. this is due to the effects of other mines upstream of Mine No. <br />' 3. Peak levels are not increasing but the irrigation season level has <br />increased to approximately 2000 to 2500 mmhos/cm. A similar trend is <br />' - 4 - <br />