Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> 69 C1981-041 RN7 findings <br />Agricultural activities on the lower terraces and floodplain area are flood irrigated <br />with water derived from the Colorado River. Some of the lower areas may be <br />marginally subirrigated by alluvial groundwater. The proposed operation would not <br />affect the quantity of flow in the Colorado River stream/alluvial aquifer system. <br />Disposal of coal refuse material in an adjacent area, and the discharge of mine water <br />from underground workings could affect water quality. The Division has assessed the <br />possible effects of these activities and has not identified any significant change in <br />water quality. <br /> <br />3. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations would be conducted to preserve, <br />throughout the mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic functions of <br />the alluvial valley floors (4.24.2(1)). <br /> <br />The essential hydrologic functions of the Colorado River alluvial valley floor are <br />those geologic, hydrologic, topographic, and soil characteristics that give the area the <br />ability to support flood irrigated agricultural activities. Subirrigation is a marginal <br />function that is limited to a few of the lower areas which are also capable of flood <br />irrigation. Since no mining activities would take place within the alluvial valley floor, <br />the geologic, topographic, and soil characteristics of the alluvial valley floor would <br />be unaffected. Mining activities are expected to have no effect on the Rapid <br />Creek/Cottonwood Creek hydrologic system. Water quality in the Colorado River <br />stream/alluvial aquifer system may be slightly degraded but the ability to flood irrigate <br />the alluvial valley floors would not be affected. <br /> <br /> The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br /> <br />XVIII. Operations on Prime Farmland <br /> <br />The Division has made a negative determination for the presence of prime farmland <br />within the permit area. The decision was based on information from the Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service and the permit application, Volume 2, Tab 9. No <br />land within the permit area is irrigated on a regular basis. Average annual <br />precipitation is about nine inches, and much of the land slope exceeds ten percent. <br />The Mesa County Soil Conservation Service survey shows no soil mapping units <br />designated as potential prime farmlands. Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(k), the Division <br />finds the proposed operation in compliance with the requirements of Prime Farmland. <br />