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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS <br />There were 51 ponds and springs located and photographed in July 2009. Of these 51 <br />ponds and springs, 32 contained water and 19 were dry at the time of the survey in July. <br />(Refer to Appendix B, Table 8. Summary of U.S. Forest Service Water Resources near <br />the West Elk Mine). Pond 81 was added to the survey this year. It was constructed in <br />August of 2008. <br />Of the 51 ponds and springs identified, the following 26 appear to hold water or run <br />throughout the summer during a normal year: P -13, P -86, P -19, R -20, P- 22,1`-18, P -96, <br />Sly Spring, P -77, P -69, P -70, P -55, P -57, P -62, Lower Cow Camp Spring, P -25, P -29, P- <br />36, P -37, P -74, P -93, P -44, High Deer Creek Spring, P -23, P -24, and P -95. The tank for <br />S LP- 1 normally contains water, but as mentioned earlier in the report, a bend in the pipe <br />seems to be preventing the flow of water into the tank. The following 11 of the 26 listed <br />appear to contain the greatest volume of water: P -22, P -18, P-70,1 P -57, P -25, P -29, <br />P -37, P -23, P -24, and P -95. <br />Little to no difference between the 2008 and 2009 field seasons was observed. The minor <br />changes that have occurred are most likely due to natural changes in seasonal and daily <br />precipitation and temperature. Many of the ponds contained more water this year because <br />of increased precipitation in June. Precipitation increased from 0.74 inches in June 2008 <br />to 1.37 inches in June 2009. When comparing the 2008 and 2009 photos, vegetation <br />appears to have improved greatly, probably due to less cattle grazing as well as the <br />increased amount of precipitation in the weeks leading up to the survey. Overall, no <br />effects from subsidence were observed at any of these fifty one ponds and springs. <br />54 <br />