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2.8 AQUATIC COMMUNITIES <br />Section 2.7.4 of this application discusses [he drainage classifications (i.e. <br />perennial, intermittent or ephemeral) wi[hi^ the proposed mine plan area. <br />Stearns-Roger (1974) stated [here are no small streams or ponds of consequence in <br />the area of interest (lands associated with [he Craig Generating Station or Trap- <br />per Mine). The Yampa River is the nearest perennial stream to the mine plan area <br />but remains more than one (1) mile (1.6 km) away from [he proposed boundaries <br />(Map M43). <br />Four (4) significant drainages will be affected within the mine plan area. How- <br />ever, only the upper reaches of each will be disturbed. Those drainages are <br />Johnson Gulch, Pyeatt Gulch, Flume Gulch and No-Name Gulch. Map M43 depicts <br />their relationship [o the mine plan area. The sections of these drainages, [o be <br />affected, have ephemeral flows that are the direct result of significant precipi- <br />tation events or snowmelt runoff during the spring. The lower sections of these <br />• networks (below 6,800 feet MSL) become intermittent from in[erflow of ground <br />water seeps and/or springs along [heir courses. <br />Three (3) springs or stream origins were pin-pointed following aerial reconnais- <br />sance, scrutiny of topographic maps, discussions with long-term residents and <br />completion of a ground search (Ecology Consultants, Inc. 1972). Only one of <br />these, No-Name Gulch, will be affected by [he proposed mining activities. <br />Descriptions of these sites are presented in Ecology Consultant's study (1972). <br />Field sampling of macroinver[ebrates from all water sources within and immediate- <br />ly adjacent to [he proposed mine plan area were conducted by Utah International <br />environmental personnel during 1979. The purpose of these investigations was to <br />describe [he species of macroinvertebrates occurring in the drainage networks <br />within the proposed mine plan area. <br />The study area, the investigation methods, [he species obtained and [he taxonomic <br />verifications are presented in Appendix J, Aquatic Communities. The monitoring <br />. points and surveyed sections of drainageways are depicted in Map M44. <br />~. <br />~~~ <br />2-577 n~-~'f <br />