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RED CANYON MINE - 5 - September 3, 1985 In any case, the significance of the quality and water level differences is unclear. The permittee may wish to speculate upon this matter. B. Surface Water - The lower Ward Creek station is below the confluence of Williams Creek and upper Ward Creek. Generally, a comparison between the upper Ward and Williams Creek sites verses lower Ward Creek would be made. However, there are numerous unmeasured inflows to Ward and Williams Creeks between the upper and lower sites. In addition, complete water quality for upper Ward Creek was not submitted. Furthermore, quantities are not comparable because the lower Ward Creek flow is reported as a gage height rather than as discharge. Upper Ward Creek and Williams Creek appear to exhibit normal pH and conductivity values for streams in this area. The lower Ward Creek site also exhibits normal pH and conductivity values, but has exhibited somewhat elevated (not necessarily suspect) levels of magnesium, sodium and sulfate. In past years, those parameters have also been high. In 1983, upper Ward exhibited high magnesium values. Williams Creek, at higher flows in 1983, was also high in magnesium, sodium and sulfate. This information indicates that perhaps these values are naturally high in this area. Sites SP-A and SP-C are both located on the Red Canyon Ditch (A is the upper site, and C is the lower site). SP-B is the NPDES discharge point at the sediment pond. The discharge from the pond flaws into Red Canyon Ditch above SP-C. At SP-A, conductivities and pH are about normal to slightly high for surface flow. At low flows, magnesium and sulfate are quite high. Conductivities generally decrease as flow increases, indicating dilution may mitigate water quality concerns. In December of 1984, however, increases in sulfate and magnesium were noted at intermediate flow levels, probably due to up-ditch disturbance. The water being added to the Red Canyon Ditch from the sediment pond is monitored at Site SP-B (NPDES point). Dishcarges from the pond vary from zero, to 43 gallons per minute. The conductivities of this water vary from 900 to over 2,850. pH's range from 7.9 to 9.3. No correlation between flow and conductance is possible at this site due to the numerous events which may cause sediment pond discharge. Typically, for this area, sodium and sulfate are found to be elevated. Sample point SP-C is the lowest Red Canyon Ditch site. This site should be heavily influenced by the sediment pond when it is discharging.