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Canadian River An azea next to the Canadian River has been previously identified as an AVF by the Division. This area has been determined to lie outside the adjacent azea for the Canadian Strip Mine and thus no written findings are required or presented in this document. Michigan River Areas of alluvium along this river have historically been flood irrigated. The river lies approximately I.5 miles southwest of the mine, yet no surface runoff from the permit area drains directly into the river. The Sudduth coal seam, the only water-bearing formation encountered at the mine site, dips steeply and exists at considerable depth beneath the alluvial aquifer of the Michigan River. The confining nature of the coal aquifer overburden and the low transmissivity of the coal aquifer makes the potential Cor adverse groundwater affects on the alluvial valley floor of the Michigan River small if not non-existent. North Fork of Bolton Draw The North Fork of Bolton Draw is the tributary which drains the southern portion of the permit area. Although the azea possesses some chazacteristics typical of an AVF, a close examination suggests a negative determination is appropriate. Within the permit azea, two prerequisites for an AVF have been identified: a unit of alluvium and an area of subirrigation. Both areas are wider than 50 feet but only the 14.4 acre unnamed alluvial soil unit exceeds l0 acres in areal extent. The subitrigated area comprises only 5.4 acres. In addition, this area has a perched water table, isolated from the main alluvial water table downstream, and is recharged solely by precipitation. Based on information supplied in the original application, and supplementary information available from the Marr Strip mine permit, it has been determined that there exists no current or historical regional practice of flood irrigating acreages less than 10 acres in size. Therefore, the Division makes the finding that the North Fork of Bolton Draw is not an alluvial valley floor. Bolton Draw Bolton Draw is the major drainage that lies to the east of the permit azea. A determination was made in the original permit approval that a segment of Bolton Draw is an AVF. This was based on geomorphic and water-availability criteria, and the potential for flood irrigation. Although there was some question about the potential for Flood irrigation and saline soil conditions in this area, a positive AVF determination was made for the segment of Bolton Draw between the stockpond in Section 11, T8N, R78W and the conFluence with the Canadian River (see Exhibit 2, Addendum). Canadian Strip Mine, C-81-026 28 December 5, 1996