Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Figure 34. Map showing the two-digit USGS HUC watersheds in relation to the RHR mine
site
San Mateo Creek
San Mateo Creek is the master stream within the Upper San Mateo subwatershed and all
watercourses in the subwatershed drain to this stream. The headwaters of San Mateo Creek are on
the north flank of Mt. Taylor. One branch heads in San Mateo Canyon above the community of
San Mateo and drains down San Mateo Canyon, while the other drains the San Mateo arch/Jesus
mesa area via Marquez and Maruca canyons.
Within the San Mateo Canyon branch, springs maintain a small perennial flow that is captured in
San Mateo Reservoir, located above the community of San Mateo. In the Marquez Canyon
branch of the subwatershed, there is an ephemeral stream that flows as a result of snowmelt or
heavy rainfalls during the summer/early fall period. It was estimated that the drainage in Marquez
Canyon had an annual discharge of 7.5 ac-ft/yr (NMEI, 1974). The flow conditions and water
quality for San Mateo Creek are presented in the following subsections.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 117