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Sinn - 2.04.7
<br />Drainage
<br />• Thompson Creek
<br />Hawk's Nest Creek
<br />Sanborn Creek
<br />Elk Creek
<br />Bear Creek
<br />Drainage Area Elevations Peak/Normal Flows
<br />6,700 acres 9,400-6,250 65/0-10
<br />1,000 9,100-6,200 35/0-12
<br />1,200 9,100-6,100 46/0-15
<br />3,500 9,000-6,000 29/0-10
<br />5,100 8,300-5,900 61/0-25
<br />Surface Water Bodies, Water Supply Intakes, Wells, Borings, Waste Disposal Areas, and
<br />Water and Air Pollution Control Facilities - With the exception of the drainages described in the
<br />previous sections, there are no significant surface water bodies within the mine permit or adjacent
<br />areas. The closest large water body is Paonia Reservoir that is approximately six miles northeast of
<br />the Town of Paonia and upstream from the mine area. The much smaller Terror Creek and Overland
<br />Reservoirs he approximately 1.5 miles west of the main stem of Hubbard Creek and approximately 2.5
<br />miles west of the Hubbard Creek headwaters, respectively. Both of these reservoirs are either
<br />upstream from or adjacent to the mine area. There are a number of very small natural basins within
<br />the mine and adjacent areas, some of which form temporary ponds following spring runoff, as a result
<br />of seep or spring discharge, or following major thunderstorms. With their limited size and non-
<br />continuous recharge, these small ponds typically dr)Fup during the warmer summer months.
<br />The water supply intake for both the mine and the Town of Somerset is located immediately south of
<br />the mine area and consists of an infiltration gallery in the North Fork alluviaVcoDuvial aquifer as
<br />shown on the Surface Water Hydrology Map, (Map 2.04-M6). The primary headgate for the Fire
<br />Mountain Canal, located approximately one-half mile west of the mine facilities area and the Town of
<br />Somerset, is also shown on Map 2.04-M6. Based on the most recent water rights information, the
<br />only water supply wells which exist in the mine permit and adjacent areas are the New Kanzler Well
<br />• on Thompson Creek, the Somerset Mute Well, Bear Well No. 1, Somerset Water Supply System (as
<br />noted above), Norris Well No. 1, Hawk's Nest Well, New Majnik House Well, and Sell No. 1 Well on
<br />the North Fork, and the Blue Ribbon Well on Hubbard Creek The only other wells in the mine
<br />permit and adjacent areas are ground water monitoring wells and degassificadon boreholes established
<br />in conjunction with ongoing mining operations. The degassification boreholes have been established
<br />to remove excess methane gas, which is liberated as mining proceeds, as a safety consideration.
<br />Locations of all wells within the mine permit and adjacent areas are shown on Map 2.04-M6.
<br />All waste disposal facilities including spoil areas, and coal and non-coal waste disposal sites, and all
<br />water pollution control installations in the mine permit and adjacent areas, are shown on the General
<br />Facilities Map, (Map 2.05-M1). Waste disposal facilities and practices are discussed in Section 2.05.3,
<br />Operation Plan-Pemnit Area. There are no air pollution control installations or oil and gas production
<br />facilities within the Permit and adjacent areas.
<br />Surface Water Quality - Surface water quality for the mine and adjacent areas is somewhat variable
<br />dependent on the size and characteristics of the contributing watershed and seasonal runoff factors.
<br />Generally, surface water quality is good with pH and chemical composition being similar to natural
<br />precipitation. Water quality in the smaller ephemeral and intermittent drainages is directly related to
<br />seasonal flow regime, with significant flows occurring only during spring snownwh runoff and during
<br />and following major thunderstorm events. When flow does occur in these drainages, it is typically of
<br />short duration, with high flow velocities and resultant high TSS and elevated total iron and manganese
<br />levels. Surface water quality for the perennial drainages is less sensitive to seasonal variation due to
<br />dilution effects, but still reflects some seasonal variation in TSS, TDS, and specific chemical
<br />constituents as a result of tributary drainage inputs, particularly during the spring.
<br />• Surface water monitoring for the mine permit and adjacent areas was initiated as early as 1978 and has
<br />included monitoring over extended periods for essentially all of the potentially affected surface
<br />drainages. While water quality analysis parameters have changed over time as the science of surface
<br />water monitoring and associated regulatory requirements have evolved, most historical monitoring has
<br />PR04 2.04-68 Revised August 2000
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