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The tipple operation would not physically disturb adjacent alluvial valley floors. The supply of surface water supplied to the alluvial valley floor would not be affected by the Ioadout facilities. Alluvial Valley Floors - Canadian River - Findings 1. The proposed surface coal mining operations would not interrupt, discon- tinue, or preclude farming on an alluvial valley floor. The permit area is located 1/2 to 1 mile from the alluvial valley floor, and would not affect farming activities. 2. The proposed surface coal mining operations would not materially damage the quantity and quality of water in surface and underground water systems that supply those alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. The Canadian River system receives most of its flow from snowmelt in the Medicine Bow Range to the east of the proposed minesite (p. 779-49). Tributary watersheds that cross the minesite and adjacent areas are at a lower elevation, in an area of low precipitation. Therefore, these watersheds contribute only a minor amount of surface water and alluvial ground water to the Canadian River AVF. 3. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations would be conducted to pre- serve, throughout the mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic func- tions of the alluvial valley floor. The alluvial valley floor would not be physically disturbed. The applicant's discussion of probable hydrologic effects (p. 780-123 to 780-126jjjjj) has identi- fied several surface water effects caused by the mining operations. However, these effects are for the most part temporary and occur in watersheds that supply only a minor amount of flow to the AVF. These effects would not disturb the essential hydrologic functions of the Canadian River alluvial valley floor. Alluvial Valley Floor - Bolton Draw - Findings I. The proposed surface coal mining operations would not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on an alluvial valley floor. None of the proposed mining operations would be located within the alluvial valley floor. In addition, most of the surface coal mining operations included in this permit, within the Bolton Draw watershed have already been conducted under previous mining permits. 2. The proposed operations would not materially damage the quantity and quality of water in surface and underground water systems that supply those alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. The surface waters that supply the 55 acre flood irrigated pasture are originally derived from the Michigan River. The effects decribed in the applicant's statement of probable hydrologic consequences (p. 780-I23 to 780-126jjjjj) do not effect this source. During mining, sediment ponds would reduce the amount of surface flow in Bolton Draw by approximately 17% (p. 780-126eeeee). Changes in surface water chemistry (increased salt loading at the rate of 37.5 Kg/yr, and changes in ion balance) would also occur. To the extent that ephemeral stream flow recharges -16-