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<br />_, 1_ <br />alluvial valley floor determination for the first area. No <br />information has been provided for the availab111ty of water for <br />the lower areas. The Division could write findings for these <br />areas if necessary by assuming that the second and third areas <br />are alluvial valley floors. <br />Map 6 of the Eckman Park permit application identifies <br />unconsolidated streamlaid deposits along Foidel Creek in <br />sections 28, 29, 31 and 32 (TSN, R86W). The applican[ has not <br />identified any historic or existing flood irrigation in this <br />area of Foidel Creek. Flood irrigation was historically <br />practiced in areas several miles upstream of the potential AVF, <br />but was discontinued for reasons of poo[ water availability. <br />The applicant provided an analysis of flood irrigation <br />feasibility for a large area that included the area of <br />consideration here, as part of the Eckman Park mine permit <br />application. The report concludes that "although a physical <br />water supply is available for up to 395 acres of land <br />determined to b~ capable of flood irrigation. ... the proSect <br />is not economically feasible". <br />The applicant has included information concerning the <br />possibility of aubirrigation in this area in both the Eckman <br />Park and Foidel Creek mine permit applications. OSM provided a <br />discussion of part of this information in its technical <br />analysis for the Eckman Park Mine, and concluded that "although <br />a conclusive decision can't be made at this time based on the <br />pceceding discussion, the evidence presented thus far suggests <br />that aubirrigation is not occurring on the South Fork of Foidel <br />Creek valley bottom". <br />information provided in the Foidel Creek mine permit <br />application does not clarify the question of aubirrigation. <br />Figure 8 of the application shows hydrologic conditions in the <br />valley bottom as measured October, 1980. The water table is <br />shown at a depth of 8 ft., th capillar~ fringe at 2 ft., and <br />the rooting zone extending to,,~ary sea§a°onally between 3 ft. and <br />10 ft. This suggests that the capillary fringe would extend up <br />into the rooting during part of the growing season. <br />A vegetation su[vey for this area on Foidel Creek is shown on <br />Map 15 of the Eckman Park permit application. Mapping unite <br />021 and 022 include vegetation species that suggest <br />subit[igation. However, the remainder of the vegetation <br />identified along Foidel Creek is not suggestive of <br />aubirrigation Therefore, the presence or absence of <br />aubircigation along this reach of Foidel CreeK is still not <br />conclusive. <br />