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The Colorado Yampa Coal Company (CYCC) Mine No. 3 (Permit No. C-84-062) is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in Twentymile Park (Figure 1). CYCC was primarily a surface coal mining operation with limited underground mining. The surface mine, active between 1974 and 1980, was called Mine No. 3. The underground operation, Lmown as the Middle Creek Mine, was faced-up in a Mine No. 3 highwall. Underground operations began May l6, 1979, but the mine was abandoned on June 5, 1980 due to adverse mining conditions. No significant amounts of coal were extracted by the underground operation. The Wadge coal seam was extracted at both mines. There is currently no active mining in this area; in total approximately 350 acres were disturbed and reclaimed. Mine 3 straddles the confluence of Middle and Foidel Creeks. A small portion of Mine No. 3 drains into Fish Creek; however, bond has been released for this area. All potential impacts related to Fish Creek are discussed in the Annual Hydrologic Report (AHR) for the Foidel Creek Mine (Permit No. C- 82-056). The Mine No. 3 area has been bacldilled, regraded, and revegetated. An administrative facility located in the Mine No. 3 area is still used by CYCC and the Trout Creek Ranch. Routt County Road #33 runs through the site. Hydrologic monitoring was initiated in the area during 1975. This report summarizes the hydrologic monitoring conducted for the 1997 Water Year (October I, 1996 though September 30, 1997). Previous years monitoring data are presented in prior Annual Hydrologic Reports. Period of record statistical summaries of data are included in this report. The CYCC Mine No. 3 hydrologic monitoring • program and the following discussions are divided into four parts: 1) ground water, 2) surface water, 3) spoil springs, and 4) NPDES discharge sites. Monitoring site locations and elevations are shown on Figure 2. Required monitoring frequencies are presented on Table 1; associated parameter lists are shown on Tables 2 and 3. The 1997 Water Year data collected at each monitoring site is presented on Tables 4 through 15. Values presented in these tables which are noted to fall outside of previously established ranges are denoted with bordered cells and bold, italicized print. Table 16 presents mean flow rate data from monitored stations for the 1997 Irrigation Period (June -September) and historical and water year maximum and minimum flows for the surface water and NPDES discharge sites monitored at Mine 3. Table 17 presents 1997 Water Year data collected during the annual spring survey. Statistical summaries of each site's period of record data set for monitored water quality parameters are presented on Tables 4A through ISA. Statistical summaries of each site's period of record data set for monitored flows or water levels as applicable are presented on Tables 4B through 15B. Figures I through 28 provide graphical representations of selected data. Since mid-1987 hydrologic monitoring has been conducted primarily by Cyprus personnel with water quality analyses primarily performed by ACZ Laboratories (formerly Bookcliffs) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Prior to June, 1986 some water quality analyses were performed by the CYCC laboratory. Two surface water sites (09243700 and 09243900) addressed in this report are monitored for flow by the US Geologic Survey (USGS). Prior to the 1989 Water Year, the USGS also collected and analyzed water quality samples from the two sites. Since the 1989 Water Year, Cyprus has collected water qualiq~ samples from these two sites for subsequent analysis by ACZ laboratories. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "1997" in this report to refer to the 1997 Water Year. • 1