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Flood irrigation on the AVF is by diversion of unaffected Trout Creek water. Sub-imgation does not <br />play a major role in maintaining the agricultural productivity of the AVF, but the quality of alluvial <br />ground water would be maintained above the material damage suspect level of 3 mmhos/cm due to the <br />fact that aquifer rechazge occurs primarily in the spring and eazly summer when stream salinity levels <br />are lowest, and the alluvial water would be further diluted by the low salinity Trout Creek irrigation <br />drainage water. <br />Alluvial Valley Floor Monitorine <br />Hydrologic monitoring as discussed in Section III. A and B of this document will be sufficient to <br />verify projections and monitor effects of mining on the quality and quantity of water supplying the <br />identified alluvial valley floors. Included in this monitoring plan is a monitoring schedule for the Fish <br />Creek AVF to assess for impacts. A surface water and alluvial water site presently exists downstream <br />of all Foidel Creek mining activities on Trout Creek (site 1005 and well 008-AT-1). Surface water <br />monitoring and alluvial monitoring sites are located along both Foidel and Middle Creeks to assess <br />possible impacts due to the undermining of these perennial streams. <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude <br />farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or naturally subirrigated (4.24.3(1)). <br />The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in the surface or <br />ground water system described above (4.24.3(3) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)). <br />The proposed activities will comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations with respect <br />to alluvial valley floors (2.06.8(5)(a)(iii)). <br />Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the essential hydrologic <br />functions of alluvial valley floors outside the permit azea and to reestablish the essential hydrologic <br />functions of a]luvial valley floors within the affected azea throughout the mining and reclamation <br />process (4.24.2). <br />1. An environmental monitoring system shall be installed, maintained, and operated by the permittee <br />on all alluvial valley floors during surface coal mining and reclamation operations and continued <br />until all bonds aze released in accordance with Rule 3 (4.24.4). <br />XIX. Operations on Prime Farmland <br />No prime farmland exists within the permit azea. No prime farmland exists in Routt County. <br />Therefore, no specific approvals aze granted under this section. <br />XX. Mountaintop Removal <br />No mountaintop removal will take place within the permit azea. Therefore, the requirements of this <br />section do not apply. <br />XXI. Operations on Steep Slopes <br />The requirements of this section do not apply. <br />34 <br />