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entirely in response to snowmelt and storm rainfall events. A total of six runoff events <br />were recorded during the two year inventory period conducted by the permittee. Events <br />that occurred during the fall and summer months resulted from thunderstorm activity; <br />however, peak flows during the year were greatest during the spring as a result of <br />snowmelts. The largest event recorded for Red Wash during the inventory period was 240 <br />cfs, which was generated as a result of late winter snowmelt. Because of the nature and <br />intent of crest gage type flow monitoring, it has limited usefulness for identifying water <br />availability criteria necessary for alluvial valley floor interpretation. Therefore, the most <br />useful information supplied by the permittee for AVF purposes is the estimation of <br />average annual streamflow calculated through Grunskys formula. The amount of water <br />available annually, as estimated through his method, indicates that Red Wash fiu-ther <br />qualifies as a potential alluvial valley floor. <br />In response to requirements for additional information (Stipulation No. 8), the pennittee <br />prepared and submitted a report entitled "Red Wash Drainage Basin Alluvial Valley Floor <br />Study" to the Division on July 27, 1983. The emphasis of the report was to provide <br />additional detailed information on the chazacteristics of the alluvial body and the <br />availability of sufficient water to support agricultural activities. Based on information <br />contained in the report and information supplied to the Division by the Meeker Office of <br />the Soil Conservation Service regarding regional flood irrigation practices, the Division <br />has made a negative alluvial valley floor determination for those portions of Red Wash <br />situated within the Deserado Mine permit azea. <br />As such, the findings of the Division regazding the AVF determination for Red Wash and <br />its associated alluvium aze hereby revised as follows: <br />Red Wash Alluvial Valley Floor Determination <br />The Division has determined that Red Wash and its associated alluvium within Section 36, <br />Township 73 North, Range 101 West, and Section 1, Township 2 North, Range 101 West, <br />meets the geomorphic criteria, but not the irrigation requirements of an AVF, as outlined <br />in OSM's "Alluvial Valley Floor Guidelines" established pursuant to the Surface Mining <br />Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. <br />Specifically, pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(3)(c), the Division finds that there is not sufficient <br />water to support agricultural activities. This is based on the following evidence: <br />A. Flood irrigation is not presently, and has not historically, been practiced in Red Wash <br />(ERO) Resources Corporation, 1982); and <br />B. The capability of the azea to be flood imgated is negligible as demonstrated by the <br />SCS regional practices information. An SCS map entitled "Land Use and Natural <br />Plan Communities, Rio Blanco County, Colorado" delineates irrigated agricultural <br />land in Rio Blanco County. In the arid western half of Rio Blanco County, irrigated <br />lands are primarily concentrated along the flood plain of the White River. The Red <br />Wash drainage basin occupies 78,400 acres in northwestern Rio Blanco and <br />44 <br />