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-45- Ciruela Canyon Ciruela Canyon is an intermittent or ephemeral tributary to the Purgatoire River. Portions of Ciruela Canyon are planned to be undermined and the applicant has permanently diverted the drainage in Ciruela Canyon around the coal refuse pile proposed to be located in the mouth of the Canyon. The applicant has identified unconsolidated streamlaid deposits in Ciruela Canyon. No areas meeting the minimum size criteria of 10 acres were identified. Therefore, Ciruela Canyon is determined not to be an alluvial valley floor. Apache Canyon Apache Canyon is an intermittent or ephemeral tributary to the Purgatoire River. Portions of Apache Canyon are planned to be undermined. The applicant has identified unconsolidated streamlaid deposits meeting the minimum size criteria in Apache Canyon. No areas of historic or existing flood irrigation have been identified in Apache Canyon (P.late 6A of the permit application). The applicant reports that the Purgatoire River valleys are the only areas in the region where irrigation has been historically practiced. These are the only areas where perennial streams exist and where a topography suitable for flood irrigation is present. Very little information has been provided to indicate the presence or absence of subirrigation in Apache Canyon. The information on alluvial round water included in the application is limited to the Picketwire Valley Exhibit 6). The applicant conducted a visual vegetation survey of Apache Canyon in November of 1983. It was concluded that no significant subsurface aquifer is present in Apache Canyon because the only species found that suggests subirrigation, narrowleaf cottonwood, was found in small groups along the drainage course. However, a vegetation survey in November is inappropriate because many species would be unrecognizable at this time of year. This is especia]ly true for those species that may be subirrigated during the late spring and early summer. Because of the lack of sufficient information on the presence or absence of subirrigation in Apache Canyon, the Division must conservatively assume that subirrigation does occur in Apache Canyon, unless the permittee demonstrates the absence of subirrigation in the canyon. Based on the information provided, Apache Canyon is determined to be an alluvial valley floor based upon the capability for subirrigation. Santistevan Canyon Santistevan Canyon is an intermittent or ephemeral Lributary to the Purgatoire River. The lower portion of Santistevan Canyon is planned to be undermined by the Maxwell mining operation. As evidenced by Map 6 of the application and aerial photographs on file at the Division, Santistevan Canyon contains unconsolidated streamlaid deposits meeting the minimum size criteria. No areas of historic or existing flood irrigation have been identified in Santistevan Canyon (Plate 6A of the application).