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of the permit area. This may indicate that the river is "losing" flow to the <br />• alluvium near the southeast portion and is "gaining" flow near the northwest <br />portion. Ground water in the alluvium adjacent to rivers can generally be <br />expected to flow approximately parallel to the direction of the river. <br />The natural interactions of surface and ground water at the loadout are altered <br />by man-induced effects of flood-irrigation and water conveyance. The applica- <br />tion of surface waters as irrigation can be expected to result in seasonal fluc- <br />tuation of the water table when irrigation application exceeds the crop water <br />requirements. The overapplication of irrigation water and hence ground water <br />recharge is most likely to occur early in the growing season and those years of <br />abundant irrigation supply. Fluctuation of the water table in the alluvium can <br />also be expected to result from seasonal variation of the water level in the <br />Roaring Fork River. <br />Operation of the loadout facility will alter the essential hydrologic functions <br />of the AVF to a very limited extent. The entire loadout is a minimum impact <br />operation. The actual land disturbance area is less than one-half the permit <br />area. The land disturbances are limited to shallow stripping for road bed <br />construction, footing excavations and sediment pond excavations. <br />The Crystal River Ranch and Diamond S Ranch comprise approximately 2,700 acres <br />and 700 acres of irrigated land, respectively. Portions of both ranches have <br />been taken temporarily out of production by the loadout facility. Total <br />disturbed area of the loadout is approximately 35 acres, some of which has <br />occurred on non-irrigated land. According to criteria established by the <br />Division, this disturbance is not significant to the AVF as it comprises well <br />under 10 percent of the area. <br />The control of sediment in surface runoff and washdown will be achieved by three <br />sedimentation ponds. The ponds are lined. The ponds are designed to retain the <br />10-year, 24-hour storm event. The maximum depth of excavations is approximately <br />15 feet in Pond 2. This is above the measured ground water table in the <br />alluvium. <br />u <br />5-14 <br />