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4.24.2 ESSENTIAL HYDROLOGIC FUNCTIONS The essential hydrologic function of the acknowledged alluvial valley floor contained within the Southfield loadout area is described in Section 2.06.8, Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations on Areas or Adjacent to Areas, Including Alluvial Valley Floors, and Exhibit 24, Alluvial Valley Floor Investigations. This area is capable of flood irrigation but no evidence of sub-irrigation was identified during the alluvial valley floor investigations. The role of this alluvial valley floor in collecting, storing, regulating and providing water for beneficial agricultural activities, will be preserved by preventing material damage to this area. The reclamation plan for the Southfield loadout area has been designed such that the geologic, hydrologic and biologic characteristics supporting the essential hydrologic functions of the Oak Creek alluvial valley floor will not be adversely affected. • 4.24.3 PROTECTION OF FARMING AND WATER SUPPLIES No material damage to water supplying the Oak Creek alluvial valley floor will result from mining and reclamation operations at the Southfield loadout. The area has not historically been utilized as cropland, no evidence of previous flood irrigation has been found, and the area is not subject to sub-irrigation. Therefore, little, if any, potential impact is anticipated from mining and reclamation operations at the Southfield loadout area. In addition, the monitoring program described in Sections 2.05.6 (3), Protection of Hydrological Balance, 4.05.13, Surface and Groundwater Monitoring, and 4.24.5, Monitoring, is designed to detect any significant changes in water quality or quantity which could result in material damage to the Oak Creek alluvial valley floor. Discussion of potential impacts, along with methods of protection and mitigation, are presented in Sections 2.05.6, Mitigation of Surface Coal Mining Operations Impacts, and 4.05, Hydrologic Balance. • 4.24-2