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Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values Fish and wildlife habitat is a applicant has selected appropr to benefit fish and wildlife. selected for use in reclaiming mixes should promote a diverse wildlife usage. (4.18(4)(1)). planned post-mining land use. The late plant species and distributions Four different seed mixes were the backfilled pit area. These seed and stable habitat to benefit VI. Alluvial Valley Floors (Rules 2.06.8 and 4.24) The Division has reviewed Sections 2.06.8 and 2.05.5 of the permit application for compliance with the requirements of this section. Description of the Existing Environment The applicant has identified two areas near the Meadows No. 1 Mine which meet the geomorphic criteria of an alluvial valley floor (AVF). They are the Yampa River and Coal Yiew Gulch. These are discussed below. The Yampa River valley meets the requirements to be classified as an AVF. That is, it contains unconsolidated streamlaid deposits and sufficient amounts of water to be utilized for agricultural activities. Land use along the Yampa River valley consists primarily of irrigated hayland and pastureland. Cropland is both flood irrigated and subirrigated. It is unlikely that the Meadows No. 1 Mine will impact the Yampa River AVF. This is further discussed later in this section. Coal View Gulch occurs to the east of the reclaimed mine pit and drains into the Yampa River. The mine has not physically disturbed Coal Yiew Gulch or the unconsolidated streamlaid deposits in Coal View Gulch. These deposits are approximately one mile downstream from the reclaimed pit area. Land use along Coal View Gulch is undeveloped rangeland. No portions of Coal View Gulch are currently, or have been historically, flood irrigated. The unconsolidated streamland deposits in Co a1 View Gulch are approximately 200 vertical feet above the level of the Yampa River. Regional flood irrigation practices utilize diverted water from the Yampa River to flood irrigate fields contained within the terraces of Yampa River alluvium at nearly the same elevation as the river. Therefore, it would not be a regional practice to irrigate such deposits as are contained in Coal Yiew Gulch from the Yampa River 200 feet below. The possibility exists that the average annual water yield from Coal View Gulch may be sufficient to practice flood irrigation on the unconsolidated sediments in Coal View Gulch. The applicant has submitted no information refuting this possibility. Therefore, Coal Yiew Gulch is determined to be an AVF. No portions of Coal View Gulch have been disturbed. Potential impacts to the Coal View AVF are discussed later. -16-