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the lateral extent and the proximity of the fault or fracture to a <br />stream valley. All inflows from these sources are characterized by <br />an initial surge of water which then either decreases or ceases <br />completely with time. Mine inflow studies conducted have shown <br />that the primary source of inflows is from fractures in areas of low <br />overburden. <br />There are no known wells or springs within the area that was mined <br />above the E seam. <br />The potential aquifers which may be affected by the Blue Ribbon <br />Mine are the alluvium of Hubbard Creek, the Rollins sandstone and <br />the lenticular sandstones located stratigraphically above and below <br />the mine. <br />c. Surface Water <br />The North Fork of the Gunnison River is the major drainage for the <br />Blue Ribbon Mine. Hubbard Creek, a perennial stream, runs <br />through the mine site and is a tributary to the North Fork. See the <br />attached General Location map, Figure 1. <br />The North Fork has an average annual streamflow at Somerset of <br />approximately 313,500 acre-feet per year (1962 to 1979). The flow <br />is regulated by the Paonia Reservoir on Muddy Creek five miles <br />upstream of the town of Somerset. The reservoir became operational <br />in 1962. Water yields during that period have ranged from a high of <br />601,800 acre-feet per year in water year 1984, to a low of 82,270 <br />acre-feet in water year 1977. Water in the North Fork is of calcium <br />bicarbonate type. There are also moderate levels of sulfate, and <br />salinity averages less than 100 mg/1. <br />Hubbard Creek provides both domestic and agricultural supplies of <br />water. The Blue Ribbon Mine is located approximately two miles <br />north and 500 feet above the confluence of Hubbard Creek and the <br />North Fork of the Gunnison River. The watershed of Hubbard <br />Creek is mountainous, ranging in elevation from 11,327 feet at <br />Crater Peak to 5,900 feet at the confluence of Hubbard Creek with <br />the North Fork. <br />Surface drainage on the lease tract is directly to the North Fork of <br />the Gunnison River via southerly flowing Hubbard Creek. <br />Inspection of the draw at the north end of the permit area shows that <br />the channel has not flowed in recent years. The apparent rarity of <br />flow in the ephemeral drainage, and the fact that there are no springs <br />above the coal seam, indicate that runoffand subsurface flow from <br />the area above the coal seam do not contribute significantly to the <br />flow of Hubbard Creek. <br />21 <br />