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2. The proposed surface coal mining and reclamation operations would not materially damage the quantity and quality of water in surface and groundwater systems that supply those alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. Neazby azeas within the Illinois River alluvial valley floor aze used for pasture and grazing lands, irrigated hay field, and as wildlife habitat (page 785-36). Tipple operations would not diminish the supply of surface water to the alluvial valley floor. Monitoring of sediment pond effluent and the adjacent irrigation ditch has not indicated any adverse change in water quality. The tipple is located in a groundwater discharge zone, surface flow is diverted away from coal stockpiles, and structures and stockpiles are located above the alluvium on a compacted man-made fill; therefore, no effects are anticipated. 3. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations would be conducted to preserve, throughout the mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floor. The tipple operation would not physically disturb adjacent alluvial valley floors. The supply of surface water supplied to the alluvial valley floor would not be affected by the loadout facilities. Alluvial Valley Floor -Canadian River -Findings 1. The proposed surface coal mining operations would not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on an alluvial valley floor. None of the proposed mining operations would be located within the alluvial valley floor. In addition, most of the surface coal mining operations included in this permit, within the Bolton Draw watershed, have already been conducted under previous mining permits. 2. The proposed operations would not materially damage the quantity and quality of water in surface and groundwater systems that supply those alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. The surface waters that supply the 55-acre flood-irrigated pasture aze originally derived from the Michigan River. The effect described in the applicant's statement of probable hydrologic consequences (pages 780-123 to 780-126jjjjj) do not affect this source. During mining, sediment ponds would reduce the amount of surface flow in Bolton Draw by approximately 17 percent (page 780-126eeeee). Changes in surface water chemistry would also occur to the extent that ephemeral stream flow recharges the alluvial aquifer and the quantity and quality of the water available Mart Mine Permit Renewal 04 I 1 January, 2002 -24-