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-3- <br /> <br />The applican4 provided an analysis of flood irrigation feasibility for <br />a large arealthat included the area of consideration here, as part of <br />the Eckman P~rk mine permit application. The report concludes that <br />"although a hysical water supply is available for up to 395 acres of <br />land determined to be capable of flood irrigation, ... the project is <br />not economically feasible". <br />The applicant has included information concerning the possibility of <br />subirrigation in this area in both the Eckman Park and Foidel Creek <br />mine permit applications. OSM provided a discussion of part of this <br />information in its technical analysis for the Eckman Park Mine, and <br />concluded that "although a conclusive decision can't be made at this <br />time based o the preceding discussion, the evidence presented thus far <br />suggests tha subirrigation is not occurring on the South Fork of Foidel <br />Creek and Fo~del Creek valley bottom". <br />Information rovided in the Foidel Creek mine permit application does not <br />clarify the ~uestion of subirrigation. Figure 8 of the application shows <br />hydrologic conditions in the valley bottom as measured October, 1980. <br />The water tale is shown at a depth of 8f t., the capillary fringe at <br />2f t., and th~ rooting zone extending to a depth of 1.5 ft. The alluvial <br />ground waterilevel is reported to vary seasonally between 3 ft. and loft. <br />This suggest that the capillary fringe would extend up into the rooting <br />during part of the growing season. <br />A vegetation survey for this area on Foidel Creek is shown on Map 15 of <br />the Eckman P~rk permit application. Mapping units 021 and 022 include <br />vegetation species that suggest subirrigation. However, the remainder <br />of the vegetation identified along Foidel Creek is not suggestive of <br />subirrigatioq. Therefore, the presence or absence of subirrigation along <br />this reach of Foidel Creek is still not conclusive. <br />This reach of Foidel Creek is determined to be an alluvial valley floor <br />because of t~e capability for flood irrigation. Parts of the valley bottom <br />may also be siubirrigated. <br />No information has been provided concerning the significance of the <br />alluvial vallley floor to farming. The Division can proceed by making <br />all three allluvial valley floor findings for this AVF. <br />Surface facilities for the existing surface mining operation are currently <br />located on a d adjacent to the alluvial valley floor. As long as no <br />additional s~rface disturbance occurs within the alluvial valley floor, <br />there would ~e no problem in making a finding that the mining operations <br />would not in errupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on the AVF. <br />The finding that no material damage to the surface water and ground water <br />that supply ijhe AVF must wait until after receipt of the revised assessment <br />of probable ~drologic consequences. The only potential problem might <br />result from he discharge of effluent to the Foidel Creek system. <br />