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• <br />We+at of the permit area, the yi•~adic~nt of the unnamed tributary <br />changes abruptly resulting in alluvial deposits between <br />Interstate ~5 and the stream's conflr.rence with Raton Creel;, (Map <br />16). Moreover, mapping downstream along Raton Creel'. indicated <br />allr.rvial deposits of varyiny width, thicl::ness and rnorphologir_al <br />relationship. As shown on Map 16, a wider and older floodplain <br />es;ists, the remnants of which are preserved as an alluvial <br />terrace. The terrace is appro:;imately five to eight feet above <br />the more recent, narrower and active floodplain of Raton Creek:. <br />The creel:: is bedrocl: floored at a few locations thus permitting <br />an estimate of overall terrace thickness of less than 30 feet. <br />The sire of the alluvial terrace deposit, 10.6 acres on the east <br />• bank: and 5.7 acres on the west bank:, along with possible <br />subirrigation and flood irrigation warranted further <br />consideration of the farming potential of the terrace deposits. <br />However, regional farming practice and the diminished <br />availability of water during the normal growing season, as <br />assessed by Mr. William Watson of the U.S. Soil Conservation <br />Service, (see attached correspondence), indicates that the <br />terrace is much too small and water-deficient to be considered <br />viable for fanning. Additionally, there are no stream diversion <br />structures or other historical evidence of past farming activity. <br />The cr.rrrent floodplain of Raton Creek is unacceptable for <br />farming, in that, it is either bedrock floored or contains gravel <br />• deposits barren of soil, within which, the channel location can. <br />an d. has recently changed in response to precipitation events. <br />594 <br />