The study site was developed by pit excavation and scraping approxi- 

 mately I ha within and adjoining the active channel of the Ugnuravik River. 

 Grave! removal was conducted during the winter from 26 March to I April 1969 

 with an unknown quantity of sand and gravel extracted from the site. Twenty- 

 three thousand cubic meters had been approved for removal, but the permittee 

 found that the gravel was only a veneer and not in sufficient quantities for 

 their needs. During this short period of operation, gravel was removed from 

 below the water table. Silt accumulation was noted in the gravel removal 

 area; overburden had been stripped and piled along both banks of the river; 

 and backhoe teeth were observed near the working limits. Various aspects of 

 this site are shown in Figures 26, 36, 83, and 92. 



Aufeis Creek. Aufeis Creek is a medium, meandering river originat- 

 ing in the foothills near the Imnavait Mountains at an elevation of 670 m 

 and flows approximately 100 km before joining the Kuparuk River. The study 

 site lies at an elevation of 275 m approximately 60 km upstream from the 

 confluence with the Kuparuk River. 



Material removed from this site was used for the construction of facil- 

 ities associated with oil exploration. Facilities constructed include a 

 l,34l-m airstrip, a camp work and storage pad, and access roads of approx- 

 imately 7 km in length connecting the stream with the airstrip and camp 

 pad. An estimated 288,000 m of material were removed during the winter of 

 1972. 



There are two large and distinct gravel removal areas separated by 

 approximately 3,130 m of undisturbed stream. The upstream gravel removal 

 area covers 46 ha along a 2,260 m reach of the stream. The entire flood- 

 plain was scraped, including the channel bed itself. Clearing and removal of 

 approximately 20 ha of vegetation and overburden were required. There is no 

 evidence of rehabilitation following mining. 



Mining at the downstream gravel removal area was less extensive and 

 included scraping the inactive floodplain, and in some areas, the adjacent 

 terraces along a 600 m reach of the stream. Deep and shal low scraping, as 



46 



