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West Elk Mine 2012 Annual Hydrology Report 6 <br />2.2 Stream Flow Data <br />The North Fork of the Gunnison River and Minnesota Creek are the major surface water <br />resources in the MCC permit area. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains <br />gaging stations on both of these streams (USGS 09132500 and USGS 09134000, <br />respectively). Flows in these streams are dominated by snowmelt from upland areas. <br />The average daily flows in the North Fork of the Gunnison River and Minnesota Creek <br />WY 2012 were well below historical averages (USGS, 2013a; USGS, 2013b). <br />2.2.1 Flows in the North Fork of the Gunnison River <br />A summary of the average daily stream flow data for the North Fork near Somerset, CO <br />(USGS 09132500; Hydrologic Unit 14020004), including historical and WY 2012 data, <br />is graphically presented in Figure 6. Average daily flows for the North Fork near <br />Somerset, CO for WY 2012 ranged from 47 cubic feet per second (cfs) (November 12, <br />2011) to 741 cfs (April 27, 2012) (USGS, 2013a). The historical mean daily flows in the <br />North Fork near Somerset, CO collected from WY 1934 through WY 2011 have ranged <br />from 17 cfs (November 10, 1950) to 7,080 cfs (May 24, 1984) (USGS, 2012a). The <br />average daily flows measured at the North Fork near Somerset, CO gaging station in WY <br />2012 were very close to historical means from October through February, above <br />historical means in March, and well below historical means from April through <br />September (USGS, 2013a) (Figure 6). <br />Figure 6. Average Daily Flow Data for the North Fork of the Gunnison River <br />near Somerset, CO (USGS 09132500) <br />North Fork of the Gunnison River <br />2500 -- - <br />2000 <br />Z 1500 <br />3 <br />0 <br />G <br />u <br />1000 <br />L <br />500 <br />0 <br />Oct 1 Nov I Dec I Jan I Feb I Mar I Apr 1 May 1 Jun 1 Jul 1 Aug I Sep I <br />Average Daily Streamflow WY 2012 Average Daily Streamflow WY 1934-2011 <br />Adapted from USGS (2013a) <br />June 2013 HydroGeo, Inc. <br />