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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAquifer Recharge 702224002 ~ 04 - 5;>'~ SUSCEPTIBLE AQillFER RECHARGE AREA REPORT PENNY CREEK QUARRY, QUILCENE, W A I-Introduction On behalf of Penny Creek Quarry, Ecological Land Services, Inc. (ELS) has prepared this Aquifer Recharge Area report for Jefferson County Department of Community Development. The purpose of this report is to characterize the hydrogeologic setting of the project area, Susceptible Aquifer Recharge Area designation by Jefferson County, and specific aquifer recharge protection me<l$ures. Penny Creek Quarry is located at 450 Penny Creek Road, in the Southeast ~ of Section 22, Township 27 North, Range 2 West, Willamette Meridian. This report describes, interprets and evaluates hydrogeologic conditions on and around Penny Creek Quarry related to Jefferson County's designation as a Susceptible Aquifer Recharge Area. Data used for this report consists of reviewing area well log information, topographic and geologic information, and operational procedures used at the mine site. Information was collected during three reconnaissance visits to the site. II-Backe-round Penny Creek Quarry is located on the eastern flank of the Quilcene Range. The hills where the quarry is located are composed of Eocene Crescent Formation basalt (EVe), bounded to the east by low lying relatively flat ground mapped as alluvium from Penny Creek and the Quilcene River floodplains, and Vashon recessional outwash. From well log information (detailed in Section IV of this report) it appears that basalt bedrock dives steeply on the eastern flank of the hill where Penny Creek Quarry is located. This is due to glacial erosion of the bedrock from Pleistocene continental glaciation which appears locally bounded by foothills of the Quilcene range. Penny Creek Road borders the site to the south and east, with Penny Creek located south of Penny Creek Road. Confluence of Penny Creek and the Quilcene River is more than 1,000 feet south-southeast of the quarry. Glacial sediments have been mapped along Penny Creek further to the west, more than one mile from the project site. III-Soils USDA Soil Conservation Service Soil Survey of Jefferson County Area, Washington, maps soil on and around the project area as Olete very gravelly silt loam on slopes up to 50%, with portions of lower-lying surrounding areas mapped as Olete-Hoodsport complex very gravelly sandy loam on slopes up to 30%. The survey map does not identify soil on slopes greater than 50% at this site. Olete soils are up to 30 inches thick overlying basalt on slopes up to 50%. Soil is described as well drained with moderate to high permeability. IV-Discussion Well logs were obtained from the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) on-line database. A limited yet representative number of well logs were used to interpret and characterize zones of domestic water use near Penny Creek Quarry. Representative well logs from the DOE database up to 2500 feet from Penny Creek Quarry were used to determine zones of water use and to estimate local aquifer characteristics. Well logs further from Penny Creek Quarry were examined on-line but were not included in this report as the information provided therein is generally characterized by those well logs included. Of the more than 20 logs examined only 2 wells obtain water from basalt bedrock sources. Water is likely contained in fracture zones within these bedrock sources. Producing wells in the Qui1cene region are completed in sedimentary deposits including fluvial alluvium and glacial deposits. Sedimentary source wells draw water from various elevations or depths below ground surface ranging from 25 feet below ground surface to in excess of 290 feet below ground surface at the same location identified by the DOE database (Appendix A). Sedimentary source production wells are topographically lower than Penny Creek Quarry based on the DOE database information. Recharge to the sedimentary deposit water bearing zones is likely through a combination of precipitation infiltration and infiltration with subsequent groundwater migration from numerous regional surface water bodies including the Qui1cene River and its drainage. It is likely that precipitation falling on basalt bedrock hillsides around Penny Creek Quarry which is not lost to evapotranspiration infiltrates through shallow permeable overburden or soil cover and subsequently flows along relatively impermeable basalt bedrock into the sedimentary deposits comprising valleys and lowlands. Quarry operations do not draw upon groundwater or use other waters for operation. Surface waters (precipitation and run off) within project boundaries is collected and directed to infiltration cells located on site. There is no direct discharge from these cells to surface waters. The existing mine operation does not appear to change the overall hydrologic balance in that ground water is not withdrawn, nor does this operation increase overall discharge. Existing and proposed operations will remain at or above current operational elevations, thereby avoiding contact with any aquifer. Collected surface water run off is regulated through an in-place Washington Department of Ecology Sand and Gravel General Permit. The net impact on the hydrologic cycle by this operation is expected to be minimal. It is likely a slight increase in localized ground water recharge will occur due to the point- source nature of infiltration cells versus the non-point-source nature of infiltration over a broader area. Infiltration cells are under regulation through DOE General Permit #1403. Penny Creek Quarry has been and currently is monitoring surface waters, submitting monitoring results and water data to DOE. When mining and reclamation are completed, surface waters will infiltrate under conditions comparable to pre-mining ~onditions. Consequently, there should be no negative long-term impact on aquifer recharge from this operation. Possible accidental release of hydrocarbon petroleum products onto the ground surface could occur from routine refueling activity, Petroleum products are delivered to the site on an as-needed basis and are not stored on-site. Established management practices and in-place spill response and mitigation measures will continue to address this unlikely event. V-Conclusions · Deepest excavation both current and proposed for the quarry is roughly 200 feet MSL. · Water elevations from DOE well logs examined for this study range from 182 feet MSL at roughly 3300 feet from the project site to -32 feet MSL. · Precipitation and storm water entering and flowing through the quarry site are directed to established containment/infiltration cells. · Existing infiltration cells will be removed as part of final mine reclamation. · Stormwater containment/infiltration cells are regulated by current DOE General Sand & Gravel Permit #1403. · Accidental release of hydrocarbon petroleum products from on-site refueling is addressed through established best management practices for spill response and mitigation measures. · No significant impact to aquifer recharge or hydrologic balance is anticipated for the existing or proposed operations. VI-Limitations The services described in this report were performed consistent with generally accepted professional consulting principles and practices. There are no other warranties, express or implied, The services performed were consistent with our agreement with our client. This report is prepared solely for the use of our client and may not be used or relied upon by a third party for any purpose. Any such use or reliance will be at such party's risk. The opinions and recommendations contained in this report apply to conditions existing when services were performed. ELS is not responsible for the impacts of any changes in environmental standards, practices, or regulations after the date of this report. ELS does not warrant the accuracy of supplemental information incorporated in this report that was supplied by others.