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will not interfere or impede the valley floor area's ability to collect, store, and <br />regulate the natural flow of surface and ground water. If anything, the quantities of <br />water available to the alluvial ground water and surface water systems has the potential <br />to be increased following mining. <br />The quality of the ground water and surface water supplying the AVF's will not be impacted <br />to such an extent that the water uses (irrigation and stock water) are precluded or so <br />severely degraded in comparison to background levels that material damage occurs. The <br />detailed discussion and analysis in Tab 17, Impact of Spoil Water Quality on Ground and <br />Surface Water Quality, substantiates the above statement. The greatest magnitude of <br />change in salt levels projected in the alluvial aquifers (29 percent increase, or 257 mg/1 <br />TDS increase) will not significantly reduce the yields of the types of crops being grown. <br />The magnitude of change in salt levels projected in the streamflow (Dry Creek) at Monitor <br />Station SG5 is a 114 percent increase, or 1,197 mg/1 TDS increase. However, when compared <br />to background Dry Creek salt load levels at the point where the water is first diverted <br />for flood irrigation, the spoil discharge TDS level is 59 percent less, or 1,322 mg/1 <br />lower than background based on 1990 same day monitoring data along Dry Creek (Tab 17, <br />Table 17-20). The natural salt loading as a result of saline seeps from dryland farming <br />in the area is totally controlling the salt load in this reach of Dry Creek. The TDS <br />changes to Dry Creek from spoil discharges are not even measurable at the point where the <br />water is first diverted for flood irrigation. <br />Finally, a monitoring program (described in Tab 18, Hydrologic Reclamation Plan) will be <br />in place during the mining and reclamation periods to measure the changes occurring and <br />allow adjustments to be made should changes deviate markedly from the computations and <br />analyses presented in Tab 17, Impact of Spoil Water Quality on Ground and Surface Water <br />Quality. Key monitors that will be used for ensuring protection to the AVF's are 006, <br />19A, 7A2, FG1, FG4, FG5, 20A, 21A, 22A, and 23A. <br />Literature Cited <br />Madote, R.F. 1989. Surficial geologic map of the Meeker 30'x60' quadrangle, <br />Garfield, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties, Colorado. U.S. Geological Survey <br />Miscellaneous Investigations Series, Map I-1823. <br />20 Revised 11/10/95