GENERAL56067 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

VIII. Alluvial Valley Floors - Rules 2.06.8, 2.07.6(2)(k) and-4.24 Information on alluvial valley floors can be found in Volume I, pages 106-116, and Volume IV, Addendum 1 of the original permit application. In addition, information available from the adjacent Marr Strip 14ine permit application was used in identifying alluvial valley floors (AVFs). This information can be found in the Division's findings document for renewal of Permit No. C-80-006 dated April 26, 1986. Identification of Alluvial Valley Floors Based on information submitted in the original permit application, three areas were identified as potential alluvial valley floors. These three areas were identified along the Michigan River, the North Fork of Bolton Draw, and the main channel of Bolton Draw. An area adjacent to the Canadian River has been previously identified as an AVF by the Division. This area has been determined to lie outside of the adjacent area for the Canadian Strip Mine and thus no written findings are required or presented in this document. Michigan River Areas of alluvium along the Michigan River have been historically flood irrigated. The river lies approximately 1.5 miles southwest of the mine, however, no surface runoff from the permit area drains directly into the river. The Sudduth coal seam, the only water-bearing formation encountered at the mine site, dips steeply and exists at considerable depth beneath the alluvial aquifer of the Michigan River. The confining nature of the coal aquifer overburden and the low transmissivity of the coal aquifer itself make the potential for ground water impacts on the alluvial valley floor of the Michigan River minimal if not non-existent. North Fork of Bolton Draw The North Fork of Bolton Draw is the tributary which drains the southern portion of the permit area. Although the area possesses some characteristics typical of an AVF, a close examination suggests a negative determination is appropriate. Within the permit area, two prerequisites for an AVF have been identified: a unit of alluvium and an area of subirrigation. Both areas are wider than 50 feet but only the 14.4 acre unnamed alluvial soil unit exceeds 10 acres in areal extent. The subirrigated area comprises only 5.4 acres. In addition, this area has a perched water table, isolated from the main alluvial water table downstream, and is recharged solely by precipitation. Based on information supplied in the original application, and supplementary information available from the Marr Strip mine permit, it has been determined that there exists no current or historical regional practice of flood irrigating acreages less than 10 acres in size. Therefore, the Division makes the finding that the North Fork of Bolton Draw is not an alluvial valley f]oor. 11