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no material damage would result to downstream water users as a result of future or <br />anticipated mining by MCC. Map 66 in the permit document delineates those areas <br />along the main stem of Minnesota Creek where agricultural activities are supported by <br />irrigation or flood irrigation. <br />Mountain Coal Company also provided an augmentation plan which ensures that there <br />is no injury to water rights served by the Minnesota Creek basin. In addition, MCC <br />volunteered information which demonstrated that use of water earmarked for the <br />augmentation plan will not result in significant adverse impacts [o AVFs. Additional <br />mapping was conducted for areas in Minnesota Creek Basin that could potentially be <br />affected. The point of augmentation is to be the Turner Ditch headgate. MCC <br />contended that the only possible areas of the Minnesota Creek basin that could be <br />affected lie above the Turner Ditch headgate. The Division rejected this rationale and, <br />because of a lack of information, must assume that all alluvial deposits along <br />Minnesota Creek from the west section line of Section 2, T14S, R90W to the <br />confluence of the North Fork near Paonia fit the criteria of an alluvial valley Floor. <br />This does not include those areas subsequently mapped as part of the water <br />augmentation plan alluvial valley floor investigation, submitted March 23, 1987. <br />Based on the above information for the Minnesota Creek Drainage, Life of Mine AVF <br />determination, the Division makes the following findings: <br />1. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations shall be conducted to preserve, <br />throughout the mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic functions <br />of alluvial valley floors not within an affected area. These functions shall be <br />preserved by maintaining [hose geologic, hydrologic, and biologic characteristics <br />that support those functions (Rule 4.24.2(1)). <br />Surface coal mining and reclamation operations shall be conducted to reestablish, <br />throughout the mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic functions <br />of alluvial valley floors within an affected area. These functions shall be <br />reestablished by reconstructing those geologic, hydrologic and biologic <br />characteristics that support those functions (Rule 4.24.2(2)). <br />The revised mining and subsidence protection plan for the Minnesota Creek basin <br />and augmentation plan for Minnesota Creek ensure protection of all water rights <br />with potential to be affected by future mining in the Minnesota Creek drainage <br />basin. For further information, see the Minnesota Creek Drainage Evaluation <br />section of the CHIS. Further, Stipulation No. 1 ensures that no mining will be <br />permitted within the Minnesota Creek basin until the Office of Mined Land <br />Reclamation has received a copy of an adjudicated plan of augmentation. <br />2. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations shall not interrupt, discontinue, <br />or preclude farming on alluvial valley floors (Rule 4.24.3(1)). <br />The revised mining plan and mitigation plan for the Minnesota Creek drainage <br />will ensure that no material damage will occur to AVF's within or adjacent to the <br />60 <br />