_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (233)

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sites. The river provides the centerpiece of this stunning aesthetic area. The Crystal River itself is utilized primarily for agriculture, kayaking and sport fishing. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has a fish hatchery along the river and considers the Crystal River one of the only unrestricted fishing streams in a multiple county region. The town of Carbondale has a river front protection policy aimed at improving the riparian areas in the only urban corridor along the river. 1.2 Description of water quality problem 1. 2.1 Sediment - based on limited sampling an average of 30% of the sediment load in the Crystal River near Redstone can be attributed to Coal Basin. Suspended sediment concentrations as high as 12,398 mg/l have been measured in Coal Basin. Macro- invertebrate sampling indicates mostly sediment tolerant species, limited resident populations and a possibility of the limited presence of some toxic substance. Source of the sediment is a combination of natural erosion and sediment production associated with mining activities, primarily the haul roads. The attached infra-red photograph (FIGURE # 1) clearly depicts areas of high erosion. 1. 2.2 The primary impact in the Crystal River is aquatic habitat degradation in the form of 100% substrate embeddedness and the loss of good quality pools by sediment deposition. Macro-invertebrate sampling indicates that the Crystal River downstream of Coal Creek is limiting for aquatic biota. 1. 2. 3 Sediment delivery is associated with spring runoff and high intensity, short duration summer storm events. Annual peak flows occur in June. 2. Proposed Solutions and Technical Methods of Implementation 2.1 Goal: Enhance aquatic life in the Crystal River by improving aquatic habitat. Objectives: Bring the aquatic diversity index for the Crystal River into the excellent range (18 - 26) , reduce the downstream total dissolved and suspended sediment concentration to the same level as found upstream of Coal Creek, and utilize the Trout Stream Inventory (TSI) to demonstrate improvements in aquatic habitat. Project approach: 1) Rehabilitate streambanks along the Crystal River by targeting stabilization activities at dominant sources of sediment identified as critically problematic, 2) remediate drainage and erosion problems on the approximate 14 miles of haul roads in Coal Basin, and 3 ) minimize the amount of sediment from both natural erosion and mining activities discharged into the Crystal River by Coal Creek. 2. 2 Methods 2.2.1 Target the three problems listed in 2. 1 above with the following strategies: 1) Utilize current deflectors, tree revetments, and riprap to stabilize specific portions of Crystal River streambanks, 2) Incorporate the recommendations of Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division' s summary report on existing drainage problems into a revised permit for coal mining operations in Coal Basin, 3 ) Install 4 - 5 in-channel structures