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• b. Water Availability Characteristics <br />Flood Irrigation - Artificial flood irrigation of grass pasture <br />and alfalfa is currently being practiced on a limited number of <br />fields situated on the White River alluvium near the Deserado Mine <br />surface facilities. However, no flood irrigation takes place on <br />areas to be affected by the surface facilities. Because the valley <br />is rather narrow in this area (less than 1500 feet wide) and the <br />river meanders between the parallel bedrock outcrops holding the <br />river, the irrigated fields are scattered and small (ranging <br />between 15 and 30 acres in size). Water is diverted from the <br />White River via small pumps which supply water for each individual <br />field or set of adjacent fields. <br />• Subirrigation <br />Data presented in the Hydrology (Section II.C) section of this <br />permit indicate that the water table in the White River alluvium <br />has a maximum depth of approximately 11.5 feet from the ground <br />surface. This indicates that sub irrigation of deeper rooted <br />phreatophytes likely occurs. Evidence of this taking place is <br />seen in Lhe mouth of Red Wash, where groundwater from [he <br />mine permit area enters the White River alluvium. Greasewood at <br />this location is notably larger than that in the adjacent areas, <br />indicating an increased supply of subsurface water. <br />Although sub irrigation probably occurs within the White River <br />• alluvium, the quality of this water is likely sufficiently poor <br />4/81 II.D-19 <br />