Laserfiche WebLink
Numerous areas meeting the criteria for potential AVF's exist in the permit and adjacent area. The <br />Division has made the finding of the presence or absence of AVF's as detailed in the following <br />sections. <br />AVF Determination -Positive Determination <br />Fish Creek <br />Based on existing and potential flood irrigation and subirrigation capabilities, the Division has <br />determined that Fish Creek is an AVF above, within, and below the permit area, down to its <br />confluence with Trout Creek. This area is delineated on Map l5 of the permit application, Alluvial <br />Valley Floors and Water Rights. PR-OS approved expansion of the mine plan into the Northern <br />Mining District (Iongwall panels 12 Right to 16 Right) which underlies the Fish Creek AVF. <br />Trout Creek <br />Alluvial deposits on Trout Creek meet alluvial valley floor criteria based on extensive acreage of <br />flood irrigated hayland, potential for flood irrigation and a presumed capability to support <br />subirrigated vegetation. The Division has determined that Trout Creek is an AVF as delineated on <br />Map 15. <br />Foidel Creek/Middle Creek Confluence <br />The alluvial body at the confluence of Foidel Creek and Middle Creek, extending from the County <br />Road No. 33 crossing of Middle Creek, upstream on both Foidel and Middle Creeks, to the first Trout <br />Creek irrigation diversion ditch, does meet alluvial valley floor criteria based upon existing flood <br />irrigation and a presumed capability to support subircigated vegetation. This area is also delineated on <br />Map 15 of the permit application. PR-OS approved undermining a portion of the AVF on Foidel Creek <br />AVF Determination - Neeative Determination <br />Foidel Creek <br />Prior to PR-03, an alluvial body along Foidel Creek in sections 28, 29, 31 and 32, TSN R86W, was <br />determined not to be an AVF based on a finding of insufficient water to support flood irrigation, and a <br />determination that subirrigated areas were less than 10 acres in extent and supported species which <br />were not agriculturally useful. <br />Due to the significant expansion of mining operations proposed in the LOM revision application <br />(PR-O1), the potential impacts to identified alluvial valley floors were reevaluated. Areas previously <br />determined by the Division to not meet alluvial valley floor criteria were not reexamined. As a result of <br />additional vegetation data and land use information submitted by the applicant and site visits made by <br />Division staff, however, certain lands previously identified as alluvial valley floors were found not to <br />meet AVF criteria. <br />Based on the limited extent of arable land and relatively high percentage of non-agriculturally useful <br />species as documented by species composition data included in the September 22, 1986 submittal, the <br />Division concluded that the area of subircigated alluvium on lower Foidel Creek denoted as "Pasture <br />19" on supplemental Map No. 1 is not an alluvial valley floor. The extent of farmable acreage would be <br />25 <br />