Laserfiche WebLink
<br />unconsolidated alluvium indicative of active floodplain de- <br />posits. The only terraces identified in the study area were <br />older deposits along the upland divides at least 120 feet above <br />present stream levels and younger deposits located in the <br />Michigan River valley approximately 30 feet above that stream. <br />Subirrigation was identified along both the North'Fork and <br />Bolton Draw. The area of subirrigation along North Fork consists <br />of 5.4 acres characterized by soil mottling and the presence of <br />such hydrophilic plant species as willows and wild iris (Addendum <br />I, p. 8 of the permit application). The unnamed alluvial soil <br />unit which includes this subirrigated area is composed of thick <br />quantities of silt with a significant water holding capacity <br />(Vol. 1, p.112, of the permit application). Water level data <br />taken from exploration holes has shown that the groundwater is <br />stored in this material, perched within a reasonable rooting <br />depth (Vol. 1, p. 1D1 of the permit application). Approximately <br />95 acres of alluvium along Bolton Draw was identified in previous <br />studies as. constituting a subirrigated area (Hardaway, et al, <br />1977 and the Marr Strip Mine Technical and Environmental Ana- <br />lysis, 1981). This area is located downstream of the permit area <br />and approximately follows the outline of past flood irrigation <br />identified on Exhibit 2, Volume I of the permit application. <br />The mean annual yield estimate for Bolton Draw is presented in <br />Addendum 1, page 11 of the permit application. The estimate of <br />J 4,545 acre feet per year appears to be high. Consequentby, anti- <br />cipated yields for North Fork are also overestimated as the <br />~" ~ applicant has indicated that 2.7% of the flow into Bolton Draw is <br />/~ kv contributed by North Fork. A further discussion of these esti- <br />~~ mates is presented in Chapter III of this TEA. <br />In terms of quality, water availability for irrigation along <br />North Fork and Bolton Draw is marginally acceptable based on sam- <br />pling from Well 2 which monitors the alluvial aquifer. The loca- <br />t`nion of Well 2 is shown on Figure 3 of thel permit application. <br />-ISS~`rv1Es ~...,~~~rc~c9~C ~mi~-~>iv,~~~l c~ ~~~I:/~~'n~. YUIG~y ~~ i~1CGfY'eC ~ - f~;E <br />CZ p~71~ cavil- S+~L-~e 5 X4.4'( ~~e -27- <br />