Hydrology and subsidence potential of proposed coal-lease tracts in Delta County, Colorado
Potential subsidence from underground coal mining and associated hydrologic impacts were investigated at two potential coal-lease tracts in Delta County, Colorado. Alteration of existing flow systems could affect water users in the surrounding area. An inventory was made of 20 wells (18 in the Paonia study area and 2 in the Cedaredge study area) and 16 springs in the Paonia study area. Wells completed in the Mesaverde Formation yielded a sodium bicarbonate type water. Water levels in wells ranged from 149 to 2209 feet below the land surface in the Paonia study area and were 25 and 217 feet below the land surface in the Cedaredge study area. Spring discharges in the Paonia study area ranged from 0.02 to 8.41 gallons per minute. The waters were of the calcium sodium bicarbonate type. Tests conducted in October 1982 indicated that Terror Creek in the Paonia study area lost 0.59 cubic foot per second along about 1.5 miles of thin alluvium overlying the lower Mesaverde Formation. Measurements in the same week indicated that Oak Creek in the Cedaredge study area gained 0.92 cubic foot per second along about 1.5 miles of thick alluvium overlying the Mesaverde Formation. The stream waters were a calcium bicarbonate type. Mining beneath Stevens Gulch and East Roatcap Creek could produce surface expressions of subsidence. Subsidence could partly drain alluvial valley aquifers or streamflow in these drainages. 21 refs.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5881175
- Report Number(s):
- USGS/WRI-83-4069; ON: TI85901307
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COAL DEPOSITS
HYDROLOGY
COLORADO
WATER RESOURCES
AQUIFERS
FORECASTING
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
GROUND WATER
LEASING
PERMEABILITY
ROCKS
STREAMS
UNDERGROUND MINING
WATER QUALITY
WATER RIGHTS
WATER SPRINGS
WELLS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER
011000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration