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<br />• <br />• <br />HYDROLOGIC MONITORING ACTIVITIES <br />r.:xs;.:zx:xz^r...zs•:e~:s~<:s.:e~:s,a~z:.c'x~...e~:.~:s.a'r::.r:;~;sr:..,nxa:~ns<.:M's•.;~~::e:;y::,,:z;;;:s;uz>::~:s.:.:.:amzr::a;.x::x ;zx:<r.:<xz:.:s;::.::;c;:c:;y:;s;'sxc::s-x:.wx:~::::'u'~s-r.:rs::::.^'m <br />The hydrologic monitoring program at the Mt. <br />Gunnison No. 1 Mine began in 1974 with the <br />completion of several groundwater observation <br />wells. This preliminary monitoring network was <br />expanded considerably and in 1981, with the <br />approval of the Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine, Mining <br />and Reclamation plan (M and R Plan), became the <br />"approved" hydrology monitoring 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 Cor future permitting. The 1989 <br />revision incorporated provisions for the collection <br />of "B" seam baseline data and monitoring for <br />potential mining impacts in anticipation of the <br />1990 opening of the "B" Seam. All revisions were <br />approved by the Colorado Mined Land Reclama- <br />tion Division (CMLRD). <br />• Data from monthly water level and water <br />quality measurements at two wells com- <br />pleted in the "B" seam coal. <br />• Data from measurements of mine water <br />discharges, and mapping of inflow loca- <br />tions. <br />SURFACE WATER <br />MONITORING <br />West Elk Coal Company's (WECC) surface water <br />monitoring program includes nine monitoring <br />locations (Table 1). The locations of these moni- <br />toring stations are shown on Exhibit I. Daily flow <br />estimates (including mean, maximum, and mini- <br />mum flows) for the five WECC gauges are summa- <br />rized in Appendix A. Except for stations with a few <br />mechanical problems, the records are complete. <br />The 1989 Annual Hydrology Report contains the <br />following: <br />• Data from five continuous Bow monitor- <br />ing stations; <br />• Data from two U. S. Geological Survey <br />(USGS) continuous Bow monitoring sta- <br />tions; <br />• Data from seasonal water quality sampling <br />at two surface water quality monitoring <br />stations; <br />• Data from seasonal measurements of pH, <br />temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, <br />and conductivity at the six stream gauging <br />stations in the Minnesota Creek Basin and <br />Sylvester Gulch; <br />• Data from seasonal tncasurements of <br />discharge and water quality sampling at <br />seven springs issuing from or below the <br />"F' seam coal; <br />• Data from seasonal water Icvel and water <br />quality measurements at 19 wells; and <br />TABLE L Summary of Surface Water Moni- <br />toring Program at the 117t. Gun- <br />nison No. l Mine <br />Station Flow Water Quality <br />Sylvester Gulch Continuous 3 limes per year <br />USGS/WECC Gaging <br />Station Continuous 3 times per year <br />Fast Fork Minnesota <br />Crttk Flume Continuous 3 limes per year <br />Lower Dry Fork Flume Continuous )limes per year <br />Upper Dry Fork Flume Continuous 7 times per year <br />Lick Creek Flume Continuous 3 limes per year <br />North Fork Upper -- 3 times per year <br />North Fork Lower -- 3 times per year <br />USGS North Fork <br />gaging station <br />near Somerset Continuous -- <br />Stilling wells at the five WECC gauges began <br />freezing in late November. By the end of Decem- <br />ber all were frozen. By mid March all stilling wells <br />had thawed. Debris buildup in the flumes was <br />minimal during 1989 and no data were lost due to <br />debris. <br />2 <br />