Example calculations of possible ground-water inflow to mine pits at the West Decker, East Decker, and proposed North Decker mines, southeastern Montana

Proposed plans to raise the spillway of the Tongue River Dam, Montana, 14 feet would result in an increase in the reservoir stage, which will affect the amount of ground-water inflow from the reservoir to existing and proposed surface coal mine pits near Tongue River Reservoir. Example calculations are based on flow from the reservoir to the mine pits through areas approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the reservoir. The planned increase in the stage of the reservoir will result in an increase of inflow to the mine pits in most areas. The increases will be greatest where the mine pits are near the reservoir and separated from the reservoir solely by aquifer zones of relatively large hydraulic conductivity. However, the inflow determined from the calculations is subject to a large degree of error, owing to the simplified method of calculation and the assumptions used. (USGS)