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_lg_ 3) The proposed operation would preserve, throughout the mining operation, the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floor. The essential hydrologic functions for this alluvial valley floor have been identified as the capacity to support subirrigated agricultural activities. Since no mining activities would occur within or beneath the alluvial valley floor, and since no material damage would occur to the surface and ground water that supply the alluvial valley floor, the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floor would not be affected by the proposed operations. Lower Foidel Creek, Lower Middle Creek, and Lower Trout Creek Map 6 of Permit No. 79-177 identifies unconsolidated streamlaid depoists at the confluence of Foide] Creek and Middle Creek. These deposits continue downstream to join unconsolidated streamlaid deposits along the Trout Creek drainage. The mapping of these deposits was discontinued downstream of the confluence of Fish Creek and Trout Creek, but presumably the deposits continue downstream to the Yampa River. The Energy Mine No. 3 -Middle Creek t4ine permit application (currently under review for technical adequacy) provides some information concerning water availability in these potential alluvial valley floors. The Energy Mine No. 3 application indicates that water diverted from Trout, Middle, and Foidel Creeks is used to irrigate the Foidel Creek and Middle Creek floodplains. The applicant concludes, in the Energy Mine No. 3 permit application, that subirrigation does not occur along Foidel Creek or Middle Creek. The supporting data and analysis, however, appears inconc]usive at this time. Map 14a of the Foidel Creek Mine permit application shows flood irrigated land along Trout Creek. No information concerning the existence of subirrigation along the lower reaches of Trout Creek is available. Based upon the available information, lower Foidel Creek, lower Middle Creek and lower Trout Creek are found to be alluvial valley floors because of the presumed capability to support flood-irrigated and subirrigated agricultural activities. No information has been provided concerning the significance of these alluvial valley floors to farming. Therefore, the Division must proceed by assuming that this area is significant to farming and by making all three alluvial valley floor findings. 1) The proposed mining operations would not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude fanning on the alluvial valley floor. No mining activities would take place within or beneath the alluvial valley floor itself.