1990-07-14_REVISION - C1981035

• Permit No: C1981035
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 7/14/1990
• Doc Name: Response to Adequacy Comments
• From: National king Coal
• To: DMG
• Type & Sequence: PR2
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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Surface Water Hydrology
3 . The only water use downstream of the proposed permit area
in Pine Gulch is water from diversion ditches originating
at the La Plata River. This water use is in a portion
of the W/2 , Section 12 , T. 34 N, R. 12 W, at the confluence
of Pine Gulch with Hay Gulch, approximately 3 miles
southwest of the permit area. Water is used for
irrigation by ditch right owners L. Huntington, D.
Huntington, and J. Wiltze. Source of information is
ditch right owners; Brad Gosche, V.P. , National King
Coal, Inc. ; and site specific reconnaissance of the Pine
Gulch drainage from Section 33, T. 35 N, R. 11 W, to
Section 12 , T. 34 N, R. 12 W. , by Fred M. Johnson, C.P.G.
and Clifford M. Schmid, L.S. As the Colorado M.L.R.D.
has found there is not sufficient alluvial groundwater
to enhance productivity of agriculturally useful
vegetation along Pine Gulch with the permit area, and
Pine Gulch is not a renewable resource, it contributes
nothing to agriculture or irrigation within the Hay Gulch
AVF at or beyond the confluence with Pine Gulch.
4 . There will be no impacts downstream on Pine Gulch due to
subsidence related depletion of flow. Subsidence could
be caused by pillar extraction during retreat, but is not
planned. National King Coal, Inc. has submitted a mining
plan showing elongated pillars supporting all entries
under the pine Gulch drainage system. These pillars will
not be extracted on final retreat, thereby providing
perpetual stability for the Pine Gulch drainage and
preventing potential damage to the hydrologic balance
outside the permit area. A topographic map showing the
drainage basin of Pine Gulch above those points proposed
to be crossed by mine development is attached. The total
area of this drainage is approximately 365. 5 acres.