2009-07-01_REPORT - C1980007 (6)

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West Elk Mine 2008 Annual Hydrology Report 62 5.2.2 Impacts to Spring and Seep Water Quantity Routine (post-baseline) monitoring of spring and seep flow is conducted three times per year, corresponding with rising limb, peak flow, and low flow periods. As a result, spring and seep flows may be highly variable from year to year. However, subsidence associated with coal mining can reduce or eliminate spring flows due to stratigraphic changes. Seep E14-1 located at the head of Box Canyon, has been dry since 1998, and was permanently covered by the construction of a new drill pad in the summer of 2006, so no monitoring data were collected in WY 2008 and no data will be collected at this site in future years. With a single exception in May 2005, Spring 15-1 has been dry or damp since April 2002 and may have been impacted by mining. Spring G-la has been dry or damp since June 1998 and may have been impacted by mining. With a single exception, spring G-26A has been dry or damp since April 2001 and may have been impacted by mining. Spring G-24 flow could not be measured in May 2008, because it was inundated by Sylvester Gulch flows. Spring G-30 has been intermittently dry/damp since September 1998 and consistently dry/damp since June 2001 and may have been impacted by mining. Maximum spring and seep flows in WY 2008 were the highest recorded to date at 18 springs (Springs 13-1, 13-2, 13-3,13-4, 26-1, 27-1, G-7, 11-2, 10-1, E10-2, G-25, G-35, 35-3, J-2, J-7, Deep Creek Trail Spring, Deep Creek Spring #2, and 96-2-2 Area Spring). Average annual spring and seep flows were higher in WY 2008 than in WY 2007 at all of the springs listed above and at springs 24-3, G-16, G-24, G-14, G-22, G-20, G-28A, G-31, and J-4. This is due to the high precipitation and late snow melt in WY 2008. Springs and seeps with average annual flows that were lower in WY 2008 compared to WY 2007 include springs CR-12, G-49, Deer Creek Spring, and WCC-24. Springs WCC-24 and CR-12 have multiple flow areas and are difficult to measure precisely. Silt may be impacting flows at Spring G-49. The maximum and minimum flows to date for Deer Creek Spring occurred in WY 2008; however, average flows are slightly lower in WY 2008 than in WY 2007. No additional mining-induced impacts to spring and seep flows in the monitored springs are anticipated in WY 2009. 5.3 Stock Ponds and USFS Water Resources Numerous stock ponds and USFS water resources are located in the permit area. The USFS water . resource sites are summarized in Table 9 and shown in Map 3. There are no reported water loss or June 2009 HydroGeo, Inc.