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• Monitoring was initiated at Middle Creek alluvial well AVM-1 during 1996. During 2001, no unusual <br />observations are noted with respect to the Middle Creek alluvium groundwater levels. No unusual observations <br />ace noted with water quality characteristics comparable to other alluvial wells in the area. <br /> <br />Recorded surface water flows for Foidel Creek, Fish Creek, and Trout Creek (Table 56) were compazable to <br />TCC's period of record data. TDS concentrations at site 1005 (Table 53) on Trout Creek, downstream of all <br />mining operations, peaked at 490 mgll in Mazch TDS concentrations at site 800 (Table 39) on Foidel Creek, <br />upstream of the mine facilities, peaked at 3500 mg/l in August. TDS concentrations at site 8 (Table 40) on Foidel <br />Creek, downstream of the mine facilities, peaked at 3700 mg/1 in August. No other notable water quality impacts <br />aze evident at arty surface water sites monitored during 2001. <br />Recorded 2001 spoil spring dischazges remain negligible and, therefore, did not constitute a significant portion of <br />dischazge from the TCC mine azea with the potential to impact off-site areas. Dischazges from sedimentation <br />ponds predominately occurred in conformance with applicable CDPS permit limitations and therefore did not <br />constitute signiScant impacts to receiving waters. Mine water dischazge sites 109 (Table 64) and 115 (Table 65) <br />produced little water during the 2001 Water Year. <br />When pumping mine water from the Fish Creek Borehole (mine dischazge site 115) the flow becomes a <br />contributor to sulfate levels in Fish Creek. When pumping mine water from the EMD Dewatering Well (mine <br />dischazge site 109) the flow bewmes a wntributor to sulfate levels in Foidel Creek. Fish Creek and Foidel <br />Creek, in turn, contribute to the sulfate levels in Trout Creek. Trout Creek currently has a secondary drinking <br />water standazd limiting sulfate to 250 mg/l. Historic sampling at site 1005 has shown that a sulfate level of 250 <br />mgA correlates to a conductivity of approximately 750 umhos/cm. In order to quantify the predicted effect of <br />sulfate contributions from sites 115 and 109, TCC in association with a consultant, has developed a computer <br />program -the "FCBH Calculator". In the winter, when stream gauging is difficult, the FCBH Calculator uses the <br />flow and conductivity values from sites 69 (Trout Creek above Fish Creek confluence) and 1005 (Trout Creek <br />below Fish Creek confluence) to estimate the appropriate discharge for sites 115 andJor 109. These same sites <br />are also used to estimate appropriate flow for site 109 in the summer. In the sttmmer, the FCBH Calculator uses <br />measteed flow and conductivity values from site 16A (upstream of discharge site 155), and conductivity values <br />from site 115 to calculate how much mine water, if any, may be discharged from site 115. TCC uses these <br />,methods to manage controllable dischazge from sites 115 and 109, and avoid contributing to sulfate exceodences <br />in Trout Creek. <br />No unusual occurrences of inflow wore noted as a result of the 2001 Annual Mine Lrflow shrdy. Inflows are <br />within the projected flows preserded in the permit. Water quality has not ganged sigrtific8ntly and appears to <br />mirror the qualify of the adjacent spoil water. It appears that the elevated EC and iron readings are associated <br />with the water that has pooled in the mine sump, and this water has been in contact with the overlyirg Marine <br />Shale. This cotl~ct has provided the opportunity for additional salts and iron to be leached from this unit. The <br />pumping of the sump should see a decrease in the elevation of the pool over time, with an anticipated decrease in <br />the EC and concertlration of iron in the effluent. <br />17 <br />