Laserfiche WebLink
source of water for irrigation is the Vulcan ditch which diverts water from Canyon Creek. <br />Canyon Creek is located north of the Colorado River. <br />In addition to the area presently used for irrigated agriculture, two areas exhibited <br />characteristics of subirrigation (Figure 5.2-2). The largest area is adjacent to the Colorado <br />River. The source of the water for subirrigation of this area is most likely the Vulcan ditch, <br />since the area is approximately 20 feet above the level of the Colorado River. The only <br />other area exhibiting subirrigation is in a small ephemeral drainage. This area is split in half <br />by the Vulcan ditch. <br />The only, possible sources of water for irrigation of the areas identified as unconsolidated <br />sediments are Canyon Creek, the Colorado River, and South Canyon Creek. All the area <br />below the Vulcan ditch can be irrigated with water from Canyon Creek; therefore, this area <br />meets the water availability criteria for an AVE Water from Canyon Creek cannot be used <br />to irrigate the unconsolidated sediments above the Vulcan ditch due to the physical barrier <br />of elevation differences. In order to irrigate the remaining area from South Canyon Creek <br />and the Colorado River, over 9 and 14 miles of ditch, respectively, would have to be <br />constructed over extremely steep terrain. Water from the Colorado River would have to be <br />diverted in Glenwood Canyon and the ditch would have to be constructed through Glenwood <br />Springs. It is not the regional practice to divert water over extremely rough terrain; <br />therefore, the area above the Vulcan ditch does not meet the water availability criteria for <br />an AVE The exception to this is the subirrigated area above the Vulcan ditch. <br />Based upon the above discussion, the Division has determined that all the area underlain by <br />unconsolidated streamlaid deposits below the Vulcan ditch plus the small subirrigated area <br />above the Vulcan ditch is an alluvial valley floor. For reference, the alluvial valley floor <br />includes all the area denoted as: (1) land presently flood irrigated; (2) land historically flood <br />irrigated; and (3) areas of probable sub -irrigation, as shown on Figure 5.2-4 in the permit. <br />Colorado River Findings <br />1) None of the proposed mining operation will be located within the alluvial valley floor. <br />Therefore, the Division finds that the proposed operation will not interrupt, discontinue, <br />or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floor. <br />2) Surface waters which supply the alluvial valley floor are diverted from Canyon Creek <br />on the opposite side of the Colorado River from the surface facilities. A total of 115 <br />acres of land are presently flood irrigated. CB projects that two to four acre-feet of <br />water per year is required to irrigate each acre of land. Based on historic records, the <br />average flow in the Vulcan ditch is 1,400 acre-feet. Since mining has ceased, other <br />than irrigation of reclaimed areas, CB is not proposing any consumptive use of water <br />from the Vulcan Ditch. <br />Irrigation of the reclaimed disturbance area is considered a mining related use. The <br />permittee must, at all times, supply adequate water for flood irrigation of the alluvial <br />valley floor below the Vulcan ditch. If at any time during the irrigation season (May, <br />Coal Ridge Mine <br />Permit Renewal No. 7 21 December 5, 2016 <br />