NFBR Mining Supplemental EIS

1

Appendix 7B

Appendix 7B

Site specific characteristics of the NFBR Watershed streams in areas mentioned in 

Plans of Operation to be suction dredged

Operation 

Name And 

Operator

Creek Flow Creek 

status 303 (d) listed/Parameters

Burnt 

Lode/Placer 

(Karissa site)

NFBR Perennial main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)

Field observations and notes: This site is located in a canyon and inaccessible except by foot. The channel is 

composed of cobbles, small boulders and some gravels and sands. The stream banks are composed of fines. 

Cobble bars are present. Some turbidity is expected during suction dredging but is expected to be limited in 

distance and amount because of the lack of silt and clay in the channel bed substrate.

Burnt 

Lode/Placer 

(Cub Creek 

site)

Cub Creek Perennial in 

places

Tributary to 

NFBR

No

Field observations: The flows in this creek are low and only portions have perennial flow. The creek has a lot of 

fines entering it from the stream banks as a result of bank trampling by ungulates. Suction dredging in this 

creek may create a turbidity plume that may extend as far as the confluence of Cub Creek and NFBR.

Gimlet Placer Gimlet Possibly 

Perennial

Tributary to 

Camp Ck

No but have temperature 

data and temperature 

exceeds State standard of 

68*F

Field observations: Channel bed is composed largely of cobbles and is highly stable. No knickpoints or 

unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area. Channel straight and incised and bordered by old placer tailings in 

places. Stream banks are a mix of fines and old placer tailings. Some turbidity is expected but will be limited 

due to the lack of silt and clay in the channel bed substrate. 

Glory B 

Placer

Jackknife Creek Intermittent Tributary to 

Pinus Creek

No

Field observations: Channel bed is composed largely of cobbles and is highly stable. No knickpoints or 

unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area. Channel straight and incised and bordered by old placer tailings in 

places. Flow is intermittent. Some turbidity is expected during suction dredging but limited in distance and 

amount because of the lack of silt and clay in the channel bed substrate.

Gold Busters 

Placer

Plan of Operations map in 

plan signed by the operator 

on3/31/05 showed the 

operation on both Camp and 

Pinus Creeks. Letter from 

operator dated 2/23/08 with 

corrected map shows that 

only working on Pinus 

Creek.

Pinus = 

perennial in this 

location. Long 

sections are dry 

downstream

Pinus = 

Tributary to 

Camp Ck

No and no temperature data
Appendix 7B NFBR Mining Supplemental EIS

2

Operation 

Name And 

Operator

Creek Flow Creek 

status 303 (d) listed/Parameters

Camp Creek site: Field observations: Channel bed is composed largely of cobbles and is highly stable. No 

knickpoints or unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area. Point bars are present. The operator in a letter dated 

February 23, 2008 stated that she would NOT be working in this area. 

Pinus Creek site: Field observations: Bed stability is only moderate because the channel bed has an abundance 

of gravels rather than cobbles though the gravels may just be the top layer and cobbles may underlie the gravels. 

This is highly likely given the large piles of cobbles adjacent to the stream. Some turbidity is expected during 

suction dredging but limited in distance and amount because of the lack of silt and clay in the channel bed 

substrate. A large section of Pinus Creek is dry during the summer months before it reaches Camp Creek. 

Therefore, there is no surface hydrologic connection between the operation and Camp Creek and no potential for 

either the turbidity plume or suspended sediment reaching Camp Creek.

Jim Bob 

Placer

NFBR Perennial Main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)

Field observations: Channel bed is composed largely of cobbles and is highly stable. No knickpoints or 

unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area. Point bars are present. Some turbidity is expected during suction 

dredging but limited in distance and amount because of the lack of silt and clay in the channel bed substrate.

In a letter dated May 19, 2008, the operator stated that he will NOT be using an 8-inch dredge. 

Midas/Lady 

Bug Placer

California Gulch Intermittent.

Check Dams in 

California Gulch

Headwater 

tributary

No

Field observations: Only the western tributary is proposed for suction dredging. Channel bed is composed 

largely of cobbles and is highly stable. The channel is confined between two hillslopes and stream flow is very 

seasonal. Lots of sediment traps downstream should some sediment be released during the operation. No 

knickpoints or unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area.

North Fork 

Placer

NFBR Perennial Main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)

Field observations: Beaver dams are present in this reach and dams have trapped fine sediment. Channel bed is 

composed largely of cobbles and is highly stable. No knickpoints or unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area. 

Some turbidity is expected during suction dredging but limited in distance and amount because of the lack of silt 

and clay in the channel bed substrate.

Prudent (#9) 

Placer

NFBR Perennial Main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)

Field observations: Beaver dams are present in this reach and dams have trapped fine sediment. Channel bed is 

composed largely of cobbles and is highly stable. No knickpoints or unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area. 

Some turbidity is expected during suction dredging but limited in distance and amount because of the lack of silt 

and clay in the channel bed substrate.

R&RK #2, #3 

Placer

NFBR Perennial Main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)
NFBR Mining Supplemental EIS

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Appendix 7B

Operation 

Name And 

Operator

Creek Flow Creek 

status 303 (d) listed/Parameters

Field observations: A beaver dam is present in this reach and dams have trapped fine sediment. The dam is not 

being maintained and is releasing water from the bottom of the dam. Some turbidity is expected during suction 

dredging but limited in distance and amount because of the lack of silt and clay in the channel bed substrate 

EXCEPT if the beaver dam was to be destabilized. .If suction dredging was to destabilize this dam, a large 

amount of silt would be released into the creek. 

R&RK #4, #5 

Placer

NFBR Perennial Main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)

Field observations: Channel bed is cobbles with a coat of fines. Some turbidity is expected during suction 

dredging but limited in distance and amount because of the lack of silt and clay in the channel bed substrate.

Shamrock 

Placer

NFBR Perennial Main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)

Field observations: Channel bed is composed largely of cobbles and is highly stable. No knickpoints or 

unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area. Some turbidity is expected during suction dredging but limited in 

distance and amount because of the lack of silt and clay in the channel bed substrate.

Sluice Box 

Placer

NFBR Perennial Main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)

Field observations: Channel bed is composed of cobbled and small boulders in some places and composed of 

gravels and sands in other places. There are some log jams in the channel upstream of the mining operation. 

Some turbidity is expected during suction dredging but limited in distance and amount because of the lack of silt 

and clay in the channel bed substrate unless the log jams are destabilized. Log jams increase channel complexity 

by trapping sediment which may lead to channel bar development and channel narrowing. In this case there is 

often difference in the channel bed elevation upstream and downstream of the log jam. If the log jams become 

destabilized and leave the system then channel complexity decreases and a headcut may develop in the deposited 

sediment which would release fine sediment downstream. Log jams also can create pools and bank undercuts 

that are important fish habitat. 

Wild Flower 

Placer

NFBR Perennial Main stem Yes/stream temperature and 

sedimentation 

(embeddedness)

Field observations: Beaver dams are present in this reach and dams have trapped fine sediment. Channel bed is 

composed largely of cobbles and is highly stable. No knickpoints or unvegetated mid-channel bars in the area. 

Some turbidity is expected during suction dredging but limited in distance and amount because of the lack of silt 

and clay in the channel bed substrate.