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~~ <br />• the Middle and Fish Creek floodplains will not be physically disrupted <br />by surface or underground mining activities, and because the point of <br />diversion for these irrigation systems is upstream from the proposed <br />permit area, quality of irrigation water will not be affected. Any <br />supporting characteristics which are found through monitoring to be <br />affected by the Fish Creek Tipple operation will be reestablished to <br />baseline conditions, as necessary, to assure the continued potential <br />agricultural utility of the alluvial valley floors. If an alluvial <br />valley floor is affected and the impact is found to result from a <br />cause which is out of TCC's control, then TCC hereby commits to <br />restore the affected essential hydrologic function to the extent <br />possible. However, TCC will not be held responsible in the event of a <br />call from a downstream senior water right which results in a <br />curtailment of flood irrigation on an alluvial valley floor. <br />Agricultural Significance <br />The floodplains of Middle and Fish Creeks, shown on Map 2, Fish Creek <br />• Tipple Land Use, are in two land use categories: cropland and <br />pastureland. Lands adjacent to the proposed permit and adjacent area <br />are used largely for grazing. <br />The available information on the agricultural productivity of the <br />above areas is contained in the description of existing land uses <br />found under Rule 2.04.3 for areas lying within the proposed permit and <br />adjacent area and in recent Colorado Agricultural Statistics published <br />by USDA (1979). Table 14, Meadow Hay Vegetation Type, and Table 25, <br />Forage Production, Percent Vegetative Cover and Carrying Capacity by <br />SCS Range Site, contains information to demonstrate that these areas <br />are of value in terms of the agricultural significance of the area. <br />The premining and proposed postmining land use of the Middle and Fish <br />Creek floodplains is cropland used for hay production. Table 14, <br />Meadow Hay Vegetation Type, lists the total level of production of <br />grasses and fortis as 21.4 g/ym2, or 764 pounds per acre. The area of <br />LJ <br />2.06-27 <br />