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West Elk Mine 2007 Annual Hydrology Report 14 <br />• 3.1.3.4 Deer Creek <br />Deer Creek is an ephemeral stream that is tributary to the Dry Fork and only flows in response to <br />storm events and spring runoff. Deer Creek flows into Dry Fork, upstream of the Minnesota <br />Reservoir Flume monitoring station and downstream of the Middle Dry Fork monitoring station. <br />Deer Creek is located in the SOD area. The Deer Creek monitoring station was established as a <br />new monitoring location in the spring of 2005 and does not have flume or data logger (Map 2). <br />Baseline monthly monitoring of Deer Creek began in May 2005 and included measuring flow, <br />collecting field water quality data, and collecting samples for laboratory water quality analyses <br />from May through October 2005. Routine monitoring (three times per year) of Deer Creek began <br />in WY 2006. <br />3.1.3.5 Horse Gulch and East Gulch. East of Horse Gulch <br />Horse Gulch and East Gulch, East of Horse Gulch are ephemeral stream drainages that are tributary <br />to the Dry Fork and flow only in response to storm events and spring runoff. These streams flow <br />into Minnesota Reservoir and drain the SE mine panel area and the area located within the SOD <br />area. These monitoring stations were established in 1977, do not have flumes or data loggers, and <br />are located north of Minnesota Reservoir (Map 2). <br />3.1.3.6 Minnesota Creek (Upper, Lower) <br />Minnesota Creek is the major stream that drains the southern portion of the Project area. There are <br />two monitoring stations in Minnesota Creek: Upper Minnesota Creek, located upstream of Dry <br />Fork; and Lower Minnesota Creek, located downstream of Dry Fork. The Upper Minnesota Creek <br />monitoring station was established by the USFS in 1977 to collect baseline data for the SOD area <br />and to support the Minnesota Creek Augmentation Plan. The Upper Minnesota Creek Flume site <br />has a 48-inch Parshall flume and a data logger. The Lower Minnesota Creek station is a USGS <br />surface water gaging station maintained by the USGS, Minnesota Creek near Paonia, CO (USGS <br />09134000). These two stations monitor the hydrologic effects of mining the SE mine panel area <br />(Map 2) and ultimately the SOD mining. <br />• <br />June 2008 HydroGeo, Inc.