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Alluvial Valley Floors - Rules 2.06.8 and 4.24 Red Wash Drainage - Deserado Mine Pennit Area The June, 1981 approval document prepared by the Office of Surface Mining and the Division designated Red Wash and its associated alluvial deposits as a probable alluvial valley floor. That preliminary determination was based on "the presence of unconsolidated stream laid deposits, a probable subirrigation potential, available annual water yield, extensive drainage area, and the professional judgment of Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division representatives". As a result of information provided by the SCS regarding regional flood irrigation practices, and information contained in the Document, "Red Wash Drainage Basin Alluvial Valley Floor Study", prepared for Western Fuels by ERO Resources Corporation and submitted July 27, 1983, the Division has revised its preliminary determination. The Division has made a negative AVF determination for Red Wash and its associated alluvium within the Deserado Mine Permit Area. Rule 1.04(10) defines "alluvial valley floors" as ..the unconsolidated stream laid deposits holding streams with water availability sufficient for subirrigation or flood irrigation agricultural activities". The Division has determined that Red Wash and its associated alluvium within Section 36, T73N, RIOIW and Section 1, T2N, RIOIW meets the geomorphic criteria, but not the irrigation requirements of an AVF, as outlined in OSM's "Alluvial Valley Floor Guidelines" established pursuant to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Specifically, pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(3)(c), the Division finds that there is not sufficient water to support agricultural activities. This is based on the following evidence: A. Flood irrigation is not presently, and has not historically, been practiced in Red Wash (ERO Resources Corporation, 1982). B. The capability of the area to be flood irrigated is neyligible as demonstrated by the SCS regional practices information. An SCS snap entitled "Land Use and Natural Plant Communities, Rio Blanco County, Colorado" delineates irrigated agricultural land in Rio Blanco County. In the grid western half of Rio Blanco County, irrigated lands are primarily concentrated along the flood plain of the White River. Tlie Red Wash drainage basin occupies 78,400 acres in northwestern Rio Blanco and southwestern Moffat Counties. Higher evevation portions of the drainage basin are characterized by juniper woodland and sagebrush - grass vegetation, while clayey salt desert type vegetation predominates lower elevation portions of the watershed.