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s • • <br />because of a presumed capability to support flood <br />irrigated and sub-irrigated agricultural activities. <br />The Trout Creek AVF was addressed previously in this <br />section. Sub-irrigated alluvium on Middle Creek below <br />the Routt County Road No. 27 crossing does not meet AVF <br />criteria due to limited farmable acreage, as was also <br />discussed previously. <br />The alluvial body at the confluence of Foidel Creek and <br />Middle Creek extending from the County Road No. 33 <br />crossing of Middle Creek upstream on both Foidel and <br />Middle to the first Trout Creek irrigation diversion as <br />depicted on Foidel Creek Life-of-Mine Application Map <br />No. 15 does meet alluvial valley floor criteria based <br />upon existing flood irrigation and a presumed capability <br />to support sub-irrigated vegetation. The required <br />findings for the identified alluvial valley floor at the <br />confluence of Foidel Creek and Middle Creek are set <br />forth below. Alluvial valley floor findings for areas <br />further upstream on Middle Creek are addressed <br />separately, under "Upper Middle Creek." <br />1. The proposed mining operations would not interrupt, <br />discontinue or preclude farming on the alluvial <br />valley floor. <br />Proposed mining activity would not directly impact any <br />portion of the confluence AVF, as it is outside of the <br />proposed permit area and would not be undermined or <br />disturbed by proposed surface facilities. A small <br />portion of the AVF has been disturbed by office <br />facilities associated with CYCC's Mine 3 (Permit No. <br />C-84-062). <br />2. The proposed mining operations would not cause <br />material damage to the quantity or quality of <br />surface and ground water that supply the alluvial <br />valley floor. <br />Given the fact that Foidel Creek has been converted from <br />an intermittent to a perennial stream as a result of <br />underground mine water and spoil aquifer discharge, and <br />the fact that Middle Creek would be neither undermined <br />nor diverted by the proposed operations, there is no <br />possibility of diminution of the quantity of water <br />supplying the alluvial valley floor. Further, the <br />~~ entire alluvial valley floor is flood irrigated by water <br />diverted from the unaffected segment of Trout Creek <br />above its confluence with Middle Creek (See TCC <br />Life-of-Mine Application Map No. 15). <br />38 <br />