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Alkali Creek <br />Only a small portion of the permit area was within the Alkali Creek drainage basin. The <br />applicant submitted very little information in regard to alluvial valley floor designation of <br />this drainage. Therefore, the Division conservatively assumed that the unconsolidated <br />streamlaid deposits in Alkali Creek comprise a significant alluvial valley floor. There is <br />no current groundwater monitoring, and this road will not be used for access during the <br />ensuing permit term. <br />Alkali Creek Findings <br />1) None of the light use road was located within the alluvial valley floor nor will it be <br />used during the ensuing term of the permit. Therefore, the Division finds that the <br />proposed operation does not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on the <br />alluvial valley floor. <br />2) There is no anticipated effect to surface water in the Alkali Creek drainage as a <br />result of remaining reclamation activities at the site. The Division finds that the <br />proposed operation will not materially damage the quantity and quality of water in <br />the surface and underground water systems that supply the alluvial valley floor or <br />portions of the alluvial valley floor. <br />3) The proposed mining operation will not physically disturb the alluvial valley floor. <br />As discussed above, there will be no effects on the quantity and quality of water <br />supplied to the AVF Therefore, the Division finds that the proposed mining <br />operations will be conducted to preserve, throughout the mining and reclamation <br />process, the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floor. <br />Colorado River <br />The applicant identified unconsolidated streamlaid deposits within and adjacent to the <br />proposed permit azea which meet the minimum size requirement of 50 feet in width by 10 <br />acres in extent as set by the OSM alluvial valley floor guidelines. These unconsolidated <br />streamlaid deposits border the Colorado River. <br />Three distinct types of unconsolidated deposits were mapped which meet the geomorphic <br />criteria for alluvial valley floors. These deposits are Quaternary terrace deposits, <br />Quatemary transition zone between terrace and colluvial outwash, and Quatemary <br />colluvial outwash. The unconsolidated sediments cover approximately 500 acres in the <br />azea of the surface facilities between the Colorado River and the Grand Hogback. Of the <br />500 acres, 216 acres aze colluvial outwash; 136 acres are terrace deposits. Most of the azea <br />mapped as teaace and transition zone deposits is presently used for imgated agriculture. <br />Only a small portion of the azea mapped as colluvial outwash is presently used for <br />irrigated agriculture. The source of water for irrigation is the Vulcan ditch which diverts <br />water from Canyon Creek. Canyon Creek is located north of the Colorado River. <br />25 June 1, 2006 <br />