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-9- <br /> aquifer test data and no piezometric surface data is available for the continuous <br /> sandstones or the local discontinuous, lenticular sandstones above the "D" <br /> seam, so no specific estimates of any groundwater flow rates and directions <br /> can be developed. The direction of migration of water would probably be north- <br /> erly, down the dip of the beds, although this has not been confirmed by drilling. <br /> Drill holes which penetrated the Rolli-ns Sandstone were initially dry, but <br /> after letting the holes stand, the holes would accumulate water, sometimes as <br /> much as 200-300 gallons. <br /> Groundwater occurences in the stratigraphic interval of the Mesa Verde Forma- <br /> tion above the "D" seam were specifically identified in only 5 of the 21 explor- <br /> ation drill holes. The data indidates that this interval of the Mesa Verde <br /> Formation is not saturated, and that the groundwater occurences are related to: <br /> local perched water in the discontinuous, lenticular sands of the Mesa Verde; <br /> areas of colluvium which overlie much of the area except along the steeper <br /> side slopes (see Maps 41, 42, and 44) ; or to faults and fractures. <br /> Discharge of groundwater occurs through several seeps and springs in the permit <br /> area and hydrologically adjacent area (see Map 43) . Approximately 20 springs <br /> occur on or near the permit area, however, none of these have been field checked <br /> during the wetter part of the year (May - June) . Some of the springs in <br /> Section 19 appear to be associated with local faulting and fracturing, and others <br /> are probably associated with landslide complexes which are quite common through- <br /> out the North Fork Valley. <br /> Surface Water Hydrology and Climatic Conditions <br /> The Orchard valley mine permit area currently consists of approximately 1,280 <br /> acres located about 2 miles North of Paonia, Colorado. It is not known at this <br /> time whether the additional leases to the West of the present permit area will <br /> be obtained by the applicant. This additional lease area is approximately 6,000 <br /> acres in size, and would include a substantial portion of the East Roatcap Creek <br /> drainage basin. However, the lease area would not extend to the West Roatcap <br /> Creek drainage channel. (Please see letter accompanying Map No. 9 in Volume 5.) <br /> All drainages in the general area drain into the North Fork of the Gunnison <br /> River which is tributary to the Colorado River system. The area is mountainous, <br /> with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Paonia to 11,150 feet at Chalk <br /> Mountain to the North on the Grand Mesa. <br /> The climate of the region is typical of the Rocky Mountain area. The valley <br /> in which Paonia is situated is semi-arid with annual precipitation averaging <br /> about 15 inches per year. Mean annual precipitation increases with elevation, <br /> reaching approximately 35 inches per year on the summit of Chalk Mountain. The <br /> May-September precipitation is 5 inches for the lowlands and 13 inches for the <br /> mountain peaks. This indicates that snowfall patterns play an important part <br /> in determining the hydrology of the area. <br /> Three separate drainages are located within or adjacent to the projected life of <br /> nine area. Terror Creek drains the eastern portion of the mine area, and East <br /> ard West tcatcap Creek drain the western portion. Stevens Gulch is an ephemeral <br /> drainage between the Terror Creek and Roatcap Creek drainage basins, and has a <br /> drainage area of 6.0 square miles. The Orchard valley mine currently withdraws <br />