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_11_ alluvial valley floor determination fo[ the first area. No information has been provided for the availability of water for the lower areas. The Division could write findings for these areas if necessary by assuming that the second and third areas are alluvial valley floors. Map 6 of the Eckman Park permit application identifies unconsolidated st[eamlaid deposits along Foidel Creek in sections 28, 29, 31 and 32 (TSN, R86W). The applicant has not identified any historic or existing flood icrigation in this area of Foidel Creek. Flood irrigation was historically practiced in areas several miles upstream of the potential AVF, but was discontinued for reasons of poor water availability. The applicant provided an analysis of flood irrigation feasibility for a large area that included the area of consideration here, as pa[t of the Eckman Park mine permit application. The report concludes that "although a physical water supply is available for up to 395 acres of land determined to be capable of flood irrigation. ... the project is not economically feasible". The applicant has included information concerning the possibility of subirrigation in this area in both the Eckman Park and Foidel Creek mine permit applications. OSM provided a discussion of part of this information in its technical analysis for the Eckman Park Mine, and concluded that "although a conclusive decision can't be made at this time based on the preceding discussion, the evidence presented thus far suggests that subirrigation is not occurring on the South Fork of Foidel Creek valley bottom". Information provided in the Foidel Creek mine permit application does not clarify the question of subirrigation. Figure 6 of the application shows hydrologic conditions in the valley bottom as measured Octobac, 1980. The watec table is shown at a depth of 8 ft., the capillary fringe at 2 ft., and the rooting zone extending to vary seasonally between 3 ft. and 10 ft.. This suggests that the capillary fringe would extend up into the rooting during part of the growing season. - A vegetation survey for this area on Foidel Creek is shown on Map 15 of the Eckman Park permit application. Mapping units 021 and 022 include vegetation species that suggest subirrigation. However, the remainder of the vegetation identified along Foidel Creek is not suggestive of subirrigation Therefore, the presence or absence of subirrigation along this teach of Foidel Creek is still not conclusive.