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alluvium that were primarily deposited by gravity flow and sheet wash. As such, they do <br /> not meet the criteria of being stream laid. During the original review of the permit <br /> application, these deposits were identified as part of the AVF. But further review and <br /> interpretation of additional hydrologic and geologic information during the summer of <br /> 1991 indicated that the area did not meet the strict definition of an Alluvial Valley Floor. <br /> Deposits at the mouth of Stevens Gulch mapped as Qpc on Plates I and 2 of the Geo-Hydro <br /> AVF Phase I study (Volume 4 of the PAP) are identified as slope outwash deposits. As <br /> such,they also do not meet the strict definition of unconsolidated stream-laid deposits. The <br /> U.S. Soil Conservation Service has identified the Aqua Fria soils in this area as "Farmland <br /> of Statewide Importance" and not as prime farmland. <br /> Because much of the area is occupied by flood irrigated orchards, the Division feels these <br /> areas are worth protecting for their agricultural contribution. Although these areas are not <br /> AVF's, the Division will require that these areas be treated as AVF's with respect to <br /> assuring that their essential hydrologic functions be restored. On the basis of the <br /> information provided, the North Fork of the Gunnison and its associated alluvium <br /> (identified as Al on Plate No. 2 of the PAP) in those portions of Sections 29, 30 and 31 in <br /> T13S,R91W and Section 36 in T13S,R92W,which lie roughly between the Farmers Ditch <br /> and the North Fork of the Gunnison River, are Alluvial Valley Floors. Slope outwash <br /> deposits and alluvial deposits located upslope (northwest) of the Fire Mountain Canal did <br /> not meet the geologic and water availability criteria, and were given no further <br /> consideration. The Alluvial Valley Floor along the North Fork continues downstream, as <br /> shown on Map 5-2 in Volume 5 of the PAP. <br /> The operator will be affecting 11.4 percent of the Terror Creek watershed. This area and <br /> the adjacent Terror Creek were not considered in the Division's original Alluvial Valley <br /> Floor determination August 20, 1981, but were considered during the review of the permit <br /> revision of June 20, 1985. The operator did not identify any areas along Terror Creek that <br /> contain significant bodies of alluvium. Most of the deposits are colluvial in nature and <br /> confined to the immediate stream channel. The Morrell Camp area contains primarily <br /> colluvial deposits and as such does not meet the definition of Alluvial Valley Floors. <br /> East and West Roatcap Creek were also not determined to be Alluvial Valley Floors. The <br /> sediments are predominately colluvial in nature and are too limited to support agricultural <br /> activities. <br /> In reviewing the original application,some concerns were raised over whether the applicant <br /> proposed to use augmentation water that would normally supply an AVF. The applicant <br /> responded by showing that Terror Ditch and West Reservoir waters supply Garvin Mesa <br /> and an irrigated area known as "The Basin," both of which are out of the valley floor <br /> complex and are not Alluvial Valley Floors. Therefore,the Bowie No. 1 Mine will not be <br /> affecting an AVF because of augmentation mitigation. <br /> 42 <br />