2008-12-19_REVISION - C1996083 (7)

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The drainages of A-Gulch, B-Gulch, C-Gulch, D-Gulch, Sheep Corral Gulch and a portion of Dove Gulch probably exhibit ephemeral flow regimes. Originally, a portion of Dove Gulch was considered perennial. However, in Permit Revision No. 10, BRL is contending that Dove Gulch is ephemeral. There are twelve (12) stock ponds located in the permit and adjacent areas. These include Pond P-1, mentioned above, and all of the ponds are manmade. The ponds collect spring season runoff, and any available seep water. Groundwater in the area is located within the alluvial deposits along the North Fork of the Gunnison River and Hubbard and Terror Creeks, within the steep sloped colluvial deposits found within some of the drainages, in perched water zones located within the lenticular sandstones of the Mesa Verde formation and in the Rollins Sandstone. The Rollins Sandstone is a recognized aquifer in the area. The groundwater associated with the alluvial deposits of the North Fork of the Gunnison River has been developed for domestic and agricultural uses. The localized groundwater resources associated with the alluvial deposits of Hubbard and Terror Creeks are not significantly developed. The groundwater associated with local colluvial deposits is recharged by snowmelt, and the water discharges through local intermittent springs and seeps. Most of this colluvial water is lost due to evaporation. Bedrock groundwater is not abundant in the permit area. The groundwaters of the locally perched bedrock water zones and of the Rollins Sandstone are not significantly developed in the permit and surrounding area, due to relatively poor water quality and low potential quantity yields. The general bedrock groundwater flow direction in the sandstone strata of the Mesaverde formation is from the recharge area near the outcrop of these strata, north toward the lower parts of the basin. Climatological Information - Detailed climate information is presented in Section 2.04.8 of the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit application document, and the information is summarized below. The nearest weather station to the permit area was the Wilcox Ranch Station, located east of the old Bowie townsite, in the Hubbard Creek Drainage. The period of record for this station is from 1948 to 1983, and the average annual precipitation of record for this station is 18.50 inches. The station was moved to the West Elk Mine in November 1983, and the station is now referred to as the Somerset IE Station. Other weather stations in the area were the Paonia 3SE and Paonia 1SW stations. The Paonia 3SE and Paonia ISW stations recorded data for the periods 1905 to 1957, and 1957 to 1993, respectively. The average minimum temperature in the area is about 45 degrees (Fahrenheit), with the lowest temperature of -28 degrees recorded in Paonia during 1913. The average high temperature in the area is about 52 degrees (Fahrenheit), with the highest recorded temperature in Paonia of 100 degrees during 1927 and 1934. Soils Information - Detailed information regarding the soils within the permit area is located in Section 2.04.9 of the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit application document. The following summary is derived from Section 2.04.9 of the referenced permit document. The main areas that are disturbed by operations at the Bowie No. 2 Mine exhibit the following soils: the Absarokee (Beenon-Absarokee Association), the Persayo, and the Torriorthents. The Absarokee soil at 15