• During Energy West's permitting of coal leases in the Rilda Canyon area, a concern was raised that mining could impact the springs located in Rilda Canyon which the North Emery Water Users Association (NEWUA) accessed. An agreement was reached between the two parties in that Energy West agreed to construct the sand filtration plant as a mitigation effort to provide uninterupted water to the people served by this water company. Water rights owned by EW in the Electrtic Lake drainage would be used to provide water through this sand filtration plant if the NEWUA springs in Rilda Canyon were impacted due to mining activity.

• Cyprus Plateau Mining Company (CPMC) reached agreements with the Castle Valley Special Services District (CVSSD), and the Huntington Cleveland Irrigation Company (HCIC) during the permitting of their coal leases in the Gentry Ridge Area. A potential impact to the culinary wells and irrigation water in Tie Fork Canyon was identified. CVSSD agreed to discontinue use of the Tie Fork wells during the period of mining in Gentry Ridge and when impacts could be occurring. CPMC agreed to compensate the CVSSD for not using these water sources. HCIC agreed to a mitigation program including compensation for potential impacts to irrigation water. During mining, reduced flows were observed in the Tie Fork wells which was attributable to mining. Shortly after mining in Gentry Ridge ceased, flows in the wells recovered to slightly above pre-mining rates. Continued monitoring will determine when CVSSD can begin utilizing this water source. The Tie Fork well water was diverted into the Tie Fork stream during mining and therefore was available to the irrigation water users.

• Southern Utah Fuel Company (SUFCO) operates the Convulsion Canyon Mine in the southern end of the Wasatch Plateau. Subsidence above their longwall panels caused surface extension cracks which affected several stock water ponds on the surface. As a mitigation effort, SUFCO applied Bentonite to the bottoms of the affected ponds. This should effectively seal the ponds bottom and allow water to be impounded for livestock watering.

Return to previous page