2008-01-14_PERMIT FILE - X200821712 (6)

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NOTICE OF INTENT TO EXPLORE INVOLVING REMOVAL OF 250 TONS OR LESS OF COAL JEEP TRAIL COAL EXPLORATION PLAN AREA PAGE 8 (located on Muddy Creek). The North Fork joins the Gunnison River proper west of Hotchkiss, approximately 20 miles southwest of the XPA. North Fork flow is partially regulated by Paonia Dam, and is significantly diminished during irrigation season by numerous agricultural diversions. Principle tributaries of the North Fork upstream from Terror Creek are Thompson and Hubbard creeks and Raven Gulch. Downstream tributaries are Minnesota, Roatcap, Reynolds, Jay, Cottonwood, and Leroux creeks. In addition to Terror Creek, Hubbard, Minnesota, Cottonwood, and Leroux creeks drain significant areas. East of Paonia all of the watersheds are quite steep with high relief for such small watershed areas. Except for Hubbard Creek and Terror Creek, defined channels have not been extensively developed due to the resistance of the Mesaverde Group sandstones. Ten to 20-ft drops over sandstone ledges are common. The portion of the XPA proposed in section 27 is drained by Iron Point Gulch and Alder Creek and are tributary to Hubbard Creek. According to existing surface water inventories performed for the proposed Ironpoint Tract Federal coal lease and Bowie No. 2 mines, there are no small ponds or springs within the boundaries of the XPA. There are currently no monitoring wells in the XPA. There are no other natural or artificial ponds or other impoundments in the XPA, nor is it served or traversed by or the origin of any irrigation ditches, canals, pipelines, or other surface water facilities. Terror Creek Reservoir (a.k.a. Bruce Park Reservoir) is adjacent to the boundary of this • XPA. This reservoir is filled during the spring runoff from water diverted from a watershed near the Overland Reservoir and a diversion ditch known as the Hubbard Creek Extension of the Holy Terror Ditch. Preliminary anaylsis of readily available but sparse data indicated that average flow in Hubbard Creek peaks in May, with snow melt runoff, at between 200 and 600 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flow declines rapidly to 10 to 15 cfs by July. Ground Water The major aquifer in the North Fork watershed is the alluvium associated with the river itself, with reported yields of up to 500 gallons per minute (U.S. Department of Interior 1978); water quality is similar to that of the river. Perched terraces, which consist of the alluvium remaining from higher Pleistocene river levels, and alluvial fans, are also significant aquifers where present, especially in the vicinity of major tributaries to the North Fork. Pediment and other colluvial deposits are local water sources. The terraces, fans, and colluvial deposits dip gently toward the river and contain occasional springs at their contact with bedrock, which dips between 2"and 5" to the north and northeast. These springs are highly variable in flow rate, persistence, and water quality. The Rollins Sandstone and the numerous lenticular sandstones in the Williams Fork Formation carry variable but usually small amounts of water except where strongly fractured, where flows in excess of 10 g.p.m. can occur for time periods dependent on the nature of the recharge regime, if any. Because of the usually low permeability, porosity, and resultant hydraulic conductivity of these sandstones, and because water quality from them