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,.. ' Janet Binns Page 5 May 14, 1998 Surface Water Ouality Water quality upstream of the mine is affected by spoil spring and mine water discharge from other mining activities. Site 900 is the upstream site for Mine No. 3 on Foidel Creek and site 700 is the upstream site on Middle Creek. Site 29 is the downstream site, located on Middle Creek below both sediment ponds at Mine No. 3. Ponds M3S and M3N discharge mainly in the spring and do elevate the salinity in Middle Creek slightly. These ponds aze the surface expression of the spoil aquifer which has developed in the reclaimed pit areas. Middle Creek dilutes the conductivity of Foidel Creek as represented by Figure 25 of the 1997 AHR for Mine No. 3. Average TDS of these discharges is 2192 mg/l, compazed to an average TDS at site 700 on Middle Creek of 428 mg/l. Discharge of spoil spring water through the sediment pond system at Mine NO. 3 does increase the salinity slightly to Middle Creek. However, these discharges are small and do not pose a threat to the current or future uses of Middle Creek waters. Surface Water Quantity Mining modifies the character of the landscape and has the potential to increase runoff from the reclaimed areas. The disturbed areas of Mine No. 3 were altered from apre-mining vegetative community of native grassland and brush to a post-mine condition of grassland. It is likely that runoff from the reclaimed areas increases the amount of water to the surface water system below the mine. Seasonal variation from one year to the next can be dramatic, based mainly on the amount of snowpack each season. No identifiable increase or decrease in surface water quantity is apparent from review of the 1997 AHR for Mine No. 3. This concludes my review of the 1997 AHR and compilation of the bond release hydrologic findings. Please forward the AHR issues to the operator. CC: Dan Hernandez