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State Reg. <br />• water cannot be used on soils with restricted drainage. The alluvial soils <br />at Seneca If have a very slow permeability due to their high clay con- <br />tent. Therefore, no adequate quality irrigation water is available to <br />potentially irrigate these fine textured alluvial soils. <br />Land Use <br />The historical land use of many alluvial valley floors (AVF) in the Routt <br />and Moffat County areas has been for intensive agriculture. Hay, small <br />grains, and grazing have been the major agricultural activities on these <br />areas. In addition to the developed areas, there are many more that <br />were developed temporarily, as during the homestead era, and later <br />abandoned. Many other areas, while meeting AVF criteria in the broad- <br />est extent of the word, have never been developed and probably never <br />will be developed. <br />Grassy Creek, Little Grassy Creek, and several tributaries to Fish Creek <br />• located in the southeatern portion of the permit area are areas that meet <br />broad AVF criteria. However, these areas have never been developed for <br />intensive agriculture. The Cook Ditch was evidently an irrigation project <br />associated with Grassy Creek, but it was never developed. No evidence <br />exists for improvements or planned improvements of the above or other <br />areas. <br />Agricultural activities have been going on in the area since the 1880's <br />and much development has taken place. Over the last 100 years, all <br />areas that were physically or economically feasible have been devel- <br />oped. Areas abandoned indicate those areas that were marginal. Areas <br />not developed quite simply show that they are not suited for intensive <br />agricultural activities. <br />The areas in question are subirrigated drainages that may or may not <br />have seasonal flows. They are generally small and narrow and not con- <br />• ducive to farming operations. They do provide good grazing because of <br />the subirrigated nature and plants present. Sagebrush will not grow in <br />the wetter areas and so they tend to have a heavy grass and forb com- <br />position. Closer inspection shows that heavy grazing has been the past <br />7-7-7 Revised 5/27/81 <br />