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• area, approximately 3 acres, of all of the ponds over the mined area. Field observations indicate that this pond <br />dries up in late summer. It appears that this is due to the fact that the creek is not deeply incised and after the <br />completion of spring run-off the flooded areas quickly dries as the creek returns to its historic channel. The 2003 <br />field observations indicated that the area did no[ flood as extensively as it did in 2000. <br />No adverse impacts (i.e, imminent failure of structure) were evident with regard to these structures. No <br />significant ponding along Foidel Creek, relating to subsidence effects of 12 Rt mining, were observed. <br />Middle Creek: As shown on Figure 136, Middle Creek Profile Over Panels 2 Rt through 6 Rt, no significant <br />changes to the creek channel were noted. Current survey data shows that no ponds were formed over the mined <br />out panels. <br />5.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS <br />No significant/unexpected hydrology impacts, attributable to activities at the Foidel Creek Mine, were noted <br />during 2003. See discussion below, summarizing data assessments. <br />Water Wells: The previously noted declining water level trend in Wadge Overburden well 91M006 (Figure 9) <br />appears to have continued during 2003. This trend may be related to localized dewatering of the formation as a <br />result of mining activities in the vicinity. The marked decline in water level noted in 1999, in wells 93M001 <br />(Figure 13) and 93M003 before it was abandoned (Figure IS), appears to correspond to longwall mining in the <br />EMD. No significant water quality degradation is noted for the Wadge Overburden formation as a result of <br />evaluating data collected during 2003. <br />Water levels monitored in the Twentymile Sandstone wells remained stable and comparable to previously <br />collected data, and no significant water quality influences were evident from data obtained during 2003. <br />Localized dewatering of the Trout Creek Sandstone appears evident in the vicinity of well 001-83-106 (Figure <br />29), although the Level started recovering slightly in 1999, and continues in 2003. The historical declining water <br />level trend at well 001-83-107 (Figure 30), continued in 2003. This decline may be attributable to the pumping of <br />well 001-83-106. Well monitoring at 95M001 (Pigure 31) indicated a continuing decline in water levels which <br />began in 1997. No significant inflows from the Trout Creek formation into the mine workings have been <br />encountered [o explain this difference in potentiometric surface or to suggest that dewatering of the formation is <br />directly attributable to mining activities. No readily apparent water quality impacts associated with mining are <br />noted far the Trout Creek Sandstone aquifer based upon data collected during 2003. <br />Mining related dewatering impacts were noted for the Fish Creek sandstone wells 91M001 and 91M004 (Figure <br />26), and the Ashley well (Figure 27). Wells 91M001 and 91M004 were undermined in 1995 and exhibited water <br />level declines corresponding to mining activity. Water levels in these wells subsequently stabilized, exhibiting <br />only seasonal fluctuations. Two springs (SW-1 and SW-2) are monitored in the same vicinity as 91M001 and <br />. 91M004. Flow was detected in SW-2 during the spring of 2003. The Ashley well was undermined in 1999 and <br />exhibited water level declines corresponding to mining activity. This well appeared to be recovering in 2000, and <br />continues in 2003. TCC will continue to monitor these locations in 2004. <br />17 <br />