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<br />• Land Condition Capability and Productivit <br />The present condition of the permit area can be described as poor far <br />any other major use besides mining at the present time. A combination <br />of existing mining and previous disturbance have led to this condition. <br />The soils within the area to be disturbed by the surface facilities of <br />the underground mine are limited in their agronomic usefulness. Because <br />of the constraints imposed by the compact nature of the area of the <br />existing surface facilities, utilizing the area for other uses would be <br />highly unlikely. Likewise, commercial plant production such as using <br />the area other than Hay Gulch for cropland would be extremely limited <br />because of the limit of flat terrain and availability of water. <br />Hydrologic Capability <br />As explained and detailed in the discussions under the Hydrologic <br />sections, the available surface water supplies in the permit and <br />adjacent area is limited to the flow found in the Hay Gulch. t4ost <br />ground water is limited to the amount found in wells in the alluvial <br />material found in the base of Hay Gulch. No, or only minor, amounts of <br />water have been encountered during the existing and past underground <br />mining; therefore, groundwater supplies would be extremely limited <br />outside the extent of the actual valley. <br />Capability of the Land to Support a Variety of Uses <br />Physical and social constraints at the present time severely limit the <br />variety of uses suitable for lands within or adjacent to the permit <br />area. The potential of the area to support alternative use other than <br />rangeland, cropland, and existing mining is somewhat questionable. <br />Because of the permit area's proximity to County Road 120 and the town <br />of Hesperus, the area has historically been available for small mining <br />operations and single resident housing locations for individuals working <br />at the mines. However, because of the narrow valley, which is dissected <br />2.04-3 <br />