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Evidence of vegetation and surface water quality at the loadout seems to suggest that the <br />alluvial valley floor and surface water within the permit area is unsuitable for flood <br />irrigation or subirrigation of hay or other field crops. However, based upon information <br />included in the permit application (including mapping of alluvial deposits, agricultural fields <br />located below the rail loop which may be subirrigated, and alluvial waters from Dry Creek <br />apparently being used to irrigate hay fields downstream) and previous findings by the <br />Division for the Seneca II -W Mine concerning Dry Creek, those portions of Dry Creek <br />mapped as alluvial deposits will continue to be designated as part of the Dry Creek alluvial <br />valley floor. <br />The loadout has existed on the Dry Creek valley floor since early 1978. The area of the <br />valley floor affected by the disturbance comprises approximately 4% of the area of <br />unconsolidated alluvial deposits in the valley. None of the disturbance impinges upon the <br />area of irrigated agriculture indicated by the applicant. No further disturbance is planned for <br />this operation. Because of the small area involved and because the disturbance is contained <br />with a sediment control system, the operation will have no significant effect on the integrity <br />of surrounding agricultural activity. <br />Impacts on surface water quality due to disturbances at the loadout will be minimal due to <br />the size of the permit area with respect to the surface area drained by Dry Creek. <br />Furthermore, data provided by the applicant indicates that coal stockpiled at the loadout does <br />not contain any chemical constituents at high enough concentrations to be of concern with <br />respect to contamination of surface water. Surface water effects will be monitored during <br />and after mining by surface monitoring stations on Dry Creek upstream and downstream of <br />the disturbance to verify this conclusion. <br />A. The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or <br />adjacent area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the alluvial valley floor <br />located on Dry Creek and Sage Creek. <br />1. The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, <br />discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or <br />naturally sub - irrigated (4.24.3(1)). <br />The only mining related activity which would interrupt farming on an alluvial <br />valley floor is the TAHR which has already been completed. <br />2. The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of <br />water in the surface or ground water system described above (4.24.3(3) and <br />2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)). <br />Due to the extremely limited acreage of proposed disturbance within the Sage <br />Creek watershed, and the fact that regional ground water flow is to the west, the <br />potential for material damage to the quality or quantity of water supplied to the <br />AVF is negligible. No measurable impacts to the quantity or quality of water <br />supplying the Sage Creek AVF are projected. <br />Hayden Gulch 34 February 11, 2014 <br />