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presence of willows and cottonwoods, some of these deposits are apparently <br />subirrigated. All of these subirrigated deposits are too small and too irregular in <br />shape to support agricultural development. Many of these deposits are simply islands <br />created by meander cutoffs and are not accessible. The river poses numerous <br />difficulties for farming these locations, including access, Flooding, and changes in <br />channel location. Due to the inability of these small isolated alluvial deposits to <br />support agricultural development, the Division finds that no alluvial valley Floors exist <br />within the narrow valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison River upstream from its <br />confluence with Gribble Gulch. <br />Other areas of consideration include isolated high terraces along the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River. However, the high terraces are probably not of alluvial origin, and <br />they may actually represent remnants of glacial debris, particularly in light of their <br />relatively thin, immature soils. A reconnaissance of the areas showed no evidence of <br />historic or current agricultural activity. These and other high terraces along the North <br />Fork have amining/residential land use history dating back to at least 1935. Terrace <br />sites' isolation from modern river terraces and general site and soil characteristics <br />indicate that agricultural development prior to its present use is not likely. <br />MCC has no control over the terrace area on the north side of the North Fork (SW'/a, <br />Section 9, T13S, R90W) and has no plans for developing this site in association with <br />the West Elk Mine. Less than ten acres of noncolluvial materials are evident at this <br />location. Most of these are associated with the apparent glacial remnant gravel <br />deposits. No agricultural activities have been conducted on this site. The immature <br />soils would not be adequate to support general agronomic activities, and development <br />would probably be limited [o improved pasture. Because of the size limitations of this <br />area and the lack of a well developed soil capable of supporting sustained agronomic <br />production, the terrace area on the north side of the North Fork does not meet the <br />criteria of an AVF. <br />Downstream from the town of Somerset, the valley opens up and [he applicant has <br />identified a much larger body of alluvium. Areas within Sections 13 and 14 have been <br />identified as currently supporting agriculture. In the permit approval issued July 29, <br />1981, MCC was notified of a positive alluvial valley Floor declaration for the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River in Section 18, T13S, R90W and Sections 13 and 14, <br />T13S, R91W. A stipulation was included in the original permit approval requiring <br />that the applicant demonstrate that the mining operation's fresh water usage will not <br />materially damage the quantity and quality of water supplying the alluvial valley floor. <br />This stipulation was complied with on March 25, 1982, with the following response: <br />Mining activities at the West Elk Mine wilt not affect the quantity and quality of <br />water in the North Fork. The coal seam to be mined lies a significant distance <br />above the North Fork and is not considered to be an aquifer. Surface facilities <br />have been designed and located to prevent contamination of the river. <br />55 <br />