2013-04-10_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (11)

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RULE 2 PERMITS Surface water resources in the general area include the drainages of Wilson Creek, Collom Gulch, and Jubb Creek, perennial streams; and Taylor Creek, Little Collom Gulch, Straight Gulch, Morgan Gulch, and the East and West Forks of Jubb Creek, minor ephemeral or intermittent drainages. Based on monitoring data discussed below, the upper reaches of Collom Gulch and Jubb Creek are also intermittent in some years. These drainages are illustrated on Map l OB. Wilson Creek is a tributary to Milk Creek, which has its confluence with the Yampa River about 13 miles southwest of Craig, Colorado, and about 7 miles north of the Colowyo permit area. Surface Water Quantity — Surface water monitoring in the general area, permit area, and permit revision areas has been conducted since 1975, including studies by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and those commissioned or conducted by Colowyo. The USGS has monitored hydrologic conditions in the Lower Yampa River basin at several gaging stations since as early as 1947. The data collected at the gaging stations in the general area are summarized in Table 2.04.7 -45. Flows measured in Good Spring, Taylor, Wilson, and Jubb Creeks near Axial, Colorado, for the period of record ranged from minimal /no flow, to a peak flow of 94 cubic feet per second (cfs), measured in Wilson Creek. The USGS discontinued water quality monitoring at last of these stations in 1992. Engineering Science (ES) measured parameters in area streams and springs from 1978 through 1982 (ES, 1982), for comparison with the USGS- measured stream parameters from 1974 until 1981 in the same streams. The report concluded that Taylor, Jubb, Good Spring, and Wilson creeks all have low baseflows, with mean flow of 1.0 cfs or less in all three drainages. It also concluded that there were no conflicts between the ES data and USGS data. Colowyo investigated baseline streamflow conditions for streams in the general area covering an 18- month span from December 2004 through May 2006. Surface water monitoring locations were established in Collom Gulch, Little Collom Gulch, Straight Gulch, and Jubb Creek as part of this study. Water Management Consultants (WMC) reported on those efforts up to May 2005 in their Pre - Feasibility Hydrology Report, included herein as Exhibit 7, Item 21 (WMC, 2005). Surface water monitoring locations applicable to the Collom permit expansion area are summarized in Table 2.04.7 -46, and monitoring results are summarized in Table 2.04.7 -48. Surface water monitoring locations are depicted on Map l OB. As part of the investigations begun in 2004, WMC also identified ten springs and seeps, seven of which had been previously identified by JBR Environmental Consultants (JBR) in 1998. Tetra Tech (dba; Maxim Technologies) and Cedar Creek Associates also identified seeps and springs within the general area along Collom Gulch, Little Collom Gulch, Jubb Creek (mainstem and both forks), Straight Gulch, upper Wilson Creek, and areas in between. A total of 46 seeps and springs were observed during the inventory, of which 33 fell within the Collom, Little Collom, or Jubb Creek drainages that may be affected by the proposed mining. Those spring and seep monitoring locations applicable to the Collom permit expansion area are summarized in Table 2.04.7 -47, and monitoring results are summarized in Table 2.04.7 -49. Spring and seep monitoring locations are depicted on Map l OB. Surface Water Quality — Several surface water quality investigations have been performed in the general area, in conjunction with the water quantity measurements discussed above. The water quality aspects of these investigations are discussed in the following paragraphs. The USGS collected water quality data at several area stream gages as early as 1947. Data from those gages are summarized in Table 2.04.7 -45. The USGS discontinued water quality monitoring at the last of these stations in 1992. Collom — Rule 2, Page 42 Revision Date: 9/28/11 Revision No.: PR -03