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t <br />r <br />• -3 • <br />The applicant provided an analysis of flood irrigation feasibility for <br />a large area that included the area of consideration here, as part of <br />the Eckman Park mine permit application. The report concludes that <br />"although a physical 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. OSf4 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 on the preceding discussion, the evidence presented thus far <br />suggests that subirrigation is not occurring on the South Fork of Foidel <br />Creek and Foidel Creek valley bottom". <br />Information provided in the Foidel Creek mine permit application does not <br />clarify the question of subirrigation. Figure 8 of the application shows <br />hydrologic conditions in the valley bottom as measured October, 1980. <br />The water table is shown at a depth of 8f t., the capillary fringe at <br />2f t., and the rooting zone extending to a depth of 1.5 ft. The alluvial <br />ground water level is reported to vary seasonally between 3 ft, and loft. <br />This suggests 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 t4ap 15 of <br />the Eckman Park 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 />subirrigation. 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 the capability for flood irrigation. Parts of the valley bottom <br />may also be subirrigated. <br />No information has been provided concerning the significance of the <br />alluvial valley floor to farming. The Division can proceed by making <br />ail three alluvial valley floor findings for this AVF. <br />Surface facilities for the existing surface mining operation are currently <br />located on and adjacent to the alluvial valley floor. As long as no <br />additional surface disturbance occurs within the alluvial valley floor, <br />there would be no problem in making a finding that the mining operations <br />would not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on the AVF. <br />The finding that no material damage to the surface water and ground water <br />that supply the AVF must wait until after receipt of the revised assessment <br />of probable hydrologic consequences. The only potential problem might <br />result from the discharge of effluent to the Foidel Creek system. <br />