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Apache Canyon cannot be economically flood irrigated at an elevation of 7200 feet while Santistevan Canyon cannot be economically flood irrigated at an elevation of 7240 feet. It would take approximately I mile of ditch construction to irrigate these two canyon bottoms at the specified elevations. The cost for construction of a 1 mile ditch was estimated at $25,000.00. Considering a potential hay production of 1.5 tons/acre (1983 hay production estimate near the Maxwell Mine) and a profit of $20.00/ton this would yield $30.00/acre or $600.00/20 acres in Apache Canyon. A payback period in excess of ten years is considered uneconomic. This project would be paid back in excess of 40 years. These canyons do not contain sufficient subirrigation to sustain agriculturally useful vegetative communities. The dominant vegetative community in the canyon bottoms is a big sagebrush, and cool season and warm season grass mixture. A partiallist of species would include: big needlegrass, 3-awn, little bluestem, western wheatgrass, blue gamma, side oats gamma, big sagebrush and rabbitbrush. This vegetative community is not dependent upon subirrigation. Narrow leaf cottonwood occurs occasionally within this community as well. When present, this tree is found in small groups along the drainage course. If significant source of subsurface water was available these species would have a greater geographic range in these canyons. Much the same as the Purgatoire Valley would have, if left in its natural state. Utilizing the species area concept and dependence on water, it is likely that no significant subsurface aquifers are present in these canyons. Therefore, the potential for irrigation by pumping would be severely limited. Drilling experience in the Raton Basin has shown that in fact these side canyons contain small localized "reservoirs", receiving water from runoff and infiltration. No significant subsurface aquifers in these canyons are expected to occur. In summary, Apache and Santistevan Canyons are not AVF's for the following reasons: there is no regional past or present precedence for irrigating small side canyon drainages. Apache Canyon has not been or is presently irrigated. Only a small portion of the bottom of Santistevan Canyon is irrigated and this is considered part of the Picketwire Valley. It is economically unfeasible to divert Purgatoire River water to these drainages. The areal extent of narrow leaf cottonwood is limited suggesting small localized pockets of alluvial groundwater. It is also WFC's contention there are not significant alluvial aquifers in these canyons, rather isolated occurrences of subsurface water. This subsurface water occurs in localized areas where sufficient colluvium has been deposited. Seasonal runoff and infiltration into this colluvium create small reservoir pockets. Evidence of these deposits include drilling information obtained in similar canyons near Segundo, Colorado and the limited areal extent of narrow-leaf cottonwood in these canyons.