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operation and is a perennial stream. The planned surface facilities are <br />• located above the flood plain of Coal Gulch and outside of the watershed <br />of Lightner Creek. As discussed in Section 2.04.7, the existence of <br />groundwater in the mining area is probably limited only to perched <br />systems. Very little water has been found in any of the past mining <br />activities in the area; and, based on existing geologic and hydrological <br />evidence, the area to be mined by Peerless Resources provides no, or <br />perhaps only minor, amounts of recharge to Coal Gulch. Peerless <br />Resources believes that the flood plains of Coal Gulch, Lightner Creek, <br />and eventually the Animas River will net be affected by the mining <br />operations. <br />Geomorphic Characteristics <br />The investigation of alluvial valley floors was initiated by mapping <br />unconsolidated deposits in the general area using published and <br />unpublished geologic maps and ground reconnaissance. These deposits and <br />. their associated stream channels are shown on the Regional Geology Map <br />(Map 5). Also shown are the delineations of Coal Gulch, Lightner Creek, <br />and the Animas River. From the field reconnaissance and published <br />geological information, it was determined that the flood plain of Coal <br />Gulch is extremely narrow and contains too much topographic relief in <br />the forms of slopes to be considered capable of being irrigated. <br />Although certain areas along Lightner Creek have been and continue to be <br />irrigated, they are extremely small in nature. <br />cultural Activities <br />Section 2.04.3 contains a description and map of agricultural activities <br />in the adjacent area of the Coal Gulch Mine. The Pre-Mining and <br />Postmining Land Use Map (Map 9) shows that the historic pre-mining land <br />use of the area has been as undeveloped land, although small amounts of <br />adjacent area (in Lightner Creek) have been used as pastureland. <br />Historically in the Coal Gulch area, there has not been any developed <br />• water supply for agricultural activities to expand upon; however, as <br />2.06-4 <br />