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-16- Alluvial Valley Floor Findings Pursuant to Rules 2.06.8 and 4.24.2 the Division is required to make specific written findings on the effect of mining on all AVF's within the permit and adjacent area. The required findings are presented below. 1. Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(a)(i)(A)(I), the Division finds that: The proposed mining operations would not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on an alluvial valley floor, unless the pre-mining land use has been undeveloped rangeland which is not significant to farming on the alluvial valley floor. The reason for the positive AVF determination is the apparent potential for flood irrigation of the 20 acre body of alluvium. Presently, the AVF is undeveloped rangeland which is not significant to farming. The AVF will not be directly impacted by the mining operations. 2. Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(a)(i)(A)(II), the Division finds that the proposed mining operation would not materially damage the quantity or quality of surface and ground water which supply the alluvial valley floor. In the early years following reclamation, there may be some increase in the amount of water supplied to Grassy Creek, due to the conversion of aspen and mountain shrub vegetation types to grassland, and the resulting reduction in transpiration loss. The effects would be relatively short-term, as over a period of years, woody species would be expected to reestablish on the reclaimed areas. Due to the limited area affected by mining and the fact that no regional bedrock aquifers will be disturbed, the quantity impacts on Grassy Creek are not expected to be detectable. There is a potential for some degradation of Grassy Creek alluvial and surface waters due to leaching of salts as a water table develops in the reclaimed pits and discharges as springs or seeps to Grassy Creek. The projected water quality of Grassy Creek resulting from mining activities is not expected to degrade to a point whereby the useability of the surface water for irrigation would be affected (see discussion in Section IX, Probable H drolo is Copse uences and Cumulative Hvdrolooic Impact Studv of this document . 3. Pursuant to Rule 4.24.2(1) and (2), the Division finds that the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floor would be preserved.