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Wells located in Apache Canyon (ACAW-1) and Ciruela Canyon (CCAW-1) were <br /> monitored following their installation in April, 1984. Station ACAW-1 is a calcium- <br /> bicarbonate type water and exhibits chemical parameters typical of side canyon water <br /> quality. Station CCAW-1, on the other hand, is a sodium-bicarbonate type water <br /> exhibiting chemical parameters more like those of the Golden Eagle Mine Discharge. <br /> Geologic studies of Ciruela Canyon show the alluvium to be shallow and some infiltration <br /> of mine discharge water may be expected. <br /> 3.3 Hydrologic Consequence <br /> Analysis of potential impacts associated with mining and refuse disposal have been <br /> completed and are contained in the 1981 mine permit application and the permit <br /> application revision for the preparation plant (February, 1984). Of particular concern are <br /> changes in the water quality and quantity of the Purgatoire River and side canyons within <br /> the permit and adjacent areas. <br /> Vertical permeability of the overburden on the mine property has been estimated at <br /> 0.00021 ft/day (1981 mine permit application). When this low permeability is multiplied <br /> by the horizontal surface area of saturated alluvium of the area, downward flow of water <br /> is estimated at 2.3 gpm. With the flow measured in the Purgatoire River, this small water <br /> loss would not be detectable. This would also be true for the Purgatoire alluvium. Flows <br /> of the river will continue to replenish the amount of water lost to seepage. <br /> The effects on the side canyon drainages should be similar to the Purgatoire <br /> alluvium. Based on general geologic mapping, the alluvial area of each canyon was <br /> multiplied by the permeability, the water lost to seepage in Apache, Ciruela and <br /> Santistevan Canyons has been estimated 0.3, 0.07 and 0.09 gpm, respectively. In all cases, <br /> this represents less than one percent of the calculated runoff for each system. However, <br /> in those canyons which have surface entries into the coal (Ciruela and Apache), seepage <br /> from shafts may add to the alluvial water loss. The mine inflow studies (Appendix 3) <br /> indicate that 12.4 gpm entering the Golden Eagle Mine comes from shafts located in <br /> Ciruela Canyon and 10 gpm entering the New Elk Mine comes from shafts located in <br /> Apache Canyon. These flows are significant when compared to the calculated runoff <br /> available for these two canyons suggesting a localized impact on surface and alluvial flow <br /> -25- <br />