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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 /> 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 /> 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 /> The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br /> XVIIL Operations on Prime Farmland <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 /> 67 <br />