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Section 785.19(c) Continued. Revised 11/20/80 <br />can be correlated from the mine plan area downstream through the <br />adjacent area to the Canadian River. This fact should be expected, <br />since the bedrock source material for the alluvium is similar <br />throughout the reaches of Bush, Williams and Sudduth Draws down- <br />stream from the mine plan area, as shown on Map 6a, Kerr Mine .Area <br />Geology. As shown in the longitudinal sections (Map 40a), the <br />alluvial water table is well below the root zone, all along the <br />reach of the stream valleys of Bush and Williams Draws. The water <br />table in Sudduth Draw is artificially elevated by the impoundments <br />which occur in series along the length of the draw. The water in <br />the few isolated gravel pockets is confined by impermeable clay in <br />the proposed permit area, preventing natural sub-irrigation from <br />occurring. <br />Soil Moisture Measurements <br />Soil moisture, as it affects the ground water availability of the <br />. intermittent stream valleys in the mine plan and adjacent areas, is <br />measured by two methods: direct observation and sampling during <br />the digging of backhoe pits, and indirectly by neutron geophysical <br />instrumentation. <br />Soil moisture in samples taken from backhoe pits are described in <br />this Section under the Sub-heading "Soils". <br />Relative soil moisture content is measured by using a neutron probe <br />access tube, which detects soil moisture in the capillary fringe <br />above the alluvial water table. Moisture in the capillary zone can <br />supply water to the root zone, thus providing sub-irrigation to <br />plants. An increase in relative soil moisture with depth within <br />the root zone indicates capillary action supporting plant growth. <br />Data from neutron probe access tube measurements in the intermit- <br />tent and perennial stream valleys in the mine plan, general and <br />tipple areas is presented in Exhibit 38, Geophysical Soil Moisture <br />Measurement Study. The neutron soil moisture measurements were <br />taken in the late summer <br />785-20 as <br />