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from the permit azea are not a part of the hydrologic system that could be affected by the Terror Creek operation; therefore, no determination will be made by the Division for those lands at this time. The valley bottom complex in the immediate vicinity of the proposed permit area (i.e., sections I S and 22) consists of the current flood plain of the North Fork of the Gunnison and a sloping colluvial deposit which rises above the flood plain to the north. Cropland, primarily fruit orchazds and hay land, exists on both the colluvium and the flood plain in the vicinity and is irrigated with water diverted from the Deer Trail Ditch which roughly pazallels State Highway 133 along the northern border of the proposed permit azea. Detailed site geology (Map 11) and land use information (Map 4) provided within the application with regard to the colluvial deposit is limited to an azea extending approximately 1,500 feet in all directions from the proposed permit boundary. An evaluation of the colluvial deposit with respect to alluvial valley floor inclusion will be limited to that portion ofthe deposit mapped as Qc (unconsolidated colluvium) on Map 11. Construction of the loadout pad and hauUaccess road within the permit area has disturbed approximately 13 acres, primazily orchazd land. Surface disturbances have been limited to the colluvial deposit, with no surface disturbance in the present flood plain. No further surface disturbance is proposed. The application describes the unconsolidated deposit as being composed ofcolluvial material resulting from mass wasting and slope wash from the steep slopes rising to the north ofthe permit azea (see Map 11). The text indicates that, since settlement in the early 1900's, the area was graded to allow construction of the Fire Mountain Canal and accommodate flood irrigation. The affected area occupies a transitional area (mapped as Qc on Map 2 of the application) between the flood plain and terrace complex below (mapped as Qa on Map 11 of the application) and the steeper upland slopes to the north of the pemut azea. It is the Division's opinion that this transitional azea is more appropriately _ _ . considered, to be an upland area rather than part of the flood plain and terrace complex as defined in sections 1.04(10), (142) and (147) of the Rules and Regulations. Although colluvial deposits can be considered to be part of unconsolidated alluvial deposits in many cases, in this particulaz instance the deposits are fairly deep and appear to be underlain by bedrock or other fairly consolidated material (on the basis of test pits and observation by Division personnel). The proposed permit azea is also on a moderately steep slope (15%) which the applicant suggests was previously graded to accommodate agricultural activity. The type of irrigation practiced on these colluvial deposits consists of diverting the flow from a neazby imgation canal into a system of fiurows. This type of irrigation is the only feasible practice under 19