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-14- <br />B. Loadout <br />The Division has identified the lands adjacent to the Roaring fork River <br />as an alluvial valley floor above, adjacent to, and below the Loadout. <br />The extent of the alluvial valley floor is identified as "Qg" on Map <br />U-3-6 of the application. The HVF extends from Highway 82 on the east <br />side of the Roaring Fork to the Kaiser-Sievers irrigation ditch on the <br />west side of the Roaring Fork River. It also extends at least one mile <br />upstream and two miles downstream from the Loadout. <br />The terrace upon which the Loadout truck dump is located is not an <br />alluvial valley floor. This is because the definition of alluvial valley <br />floors specifically excludes upland areas and isolated terraces that are <br />not hydrologically connected to the river. <br />As previously mentioned, the Loadout was built prior to the enactment of <br />alluvial valley floor regulations for underground mines. As a result of <br />construction, the Loadout has taken 35 acres out of agricultural <br />production. This acreage is insignificant to the adjacent farms total <br />production. The adjacent Crystal River Ranch and Diamond S Ranch <br />comprise over 2,700 acres and 700 acres of irrigated land, respectively. <br />Upon termination of mining, the Loadout will be restored to its <br />pre-mininy agricultural condition. The essential hydrologic function of <br />flood irrigation will be restored. <br />The reclamation plan calls for the replacement of stockpiled alluvium and <br />topsoil, return of pre-mining irrigation systems, and a revegetation <br />monitoring plan to verify agricultural productivity levels equal to or <br />greater than adjacent areas. <br />C. Findings <br />Based on the information presented in the application, the Division makes <br />the following findings: <br />1. Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(a)(i), the Division finds that the <br />proposed surface mining operations would not interrupt, discontinue, or <br />preclude farming on alluvial valley floors (Rule 2.06.8(5)), and that any <br />existing disturbance that was "pre-law" was insignificant to the total <br />farms production <br />2. Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(a)(ii), the Division finds that the <br />proposed surface coal mining operations would not materially damage the <br />quantity and quality of water in surface and ground water systems that <br />supply those alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. <br />3. Pursuant to Rule 4.24.2(1), the Division finds that the proposed <br />surface coal mining operations has been designed to preserve the <br />essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors. <br />