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Hydrologic Capability <br />• As described in detail in the hydrologic sections, the availability of moisture is the <br />predominant factor limiting variability in land use for these areas classified as rangeland. <br />Surface water supplies in the rangeland areas are mainly limited by flow in ephemeral <br />drainages. Stollsteimer Creek provides sufficient moisture, during most of the year, to <br />maintain the adjacent pastureland and some limited riparian habitat along its banks. The <br />groundwater sampled from domestic wells and groundwater monitoring wells is described <br />in detail in 2.04.7, Hydrology Description. The major limitation to availability of <br />groundwater is that of elevation and well depth, Overall surface and groundwater supplies <br />are limited to the lower valleys by topography and/or elevation. These physical constraints <br />necessitate that the land use be restricted to rangeland except for the limited pastureland <br />in Section 30. <br />Capability of the Land to Support a Variety of Uses <br />Physical constraints at the present time limit the potential for a variety of uses within the <br />Permit area as well as the area to be affected over the life of the project. The lack of <br />quality groundwater in the immediate area limits the potential for residential development. <br />The area is national forest and private lands where recreational wildlife and ranching <br />activities logically will continue to occur. <br />The history portion of the Introduction describes the limited underground mining operations <br />• that occurred in the past. It also briefly describes limited surface mining activities conducted <br />by the Colorado Division of Highways, as well as the commencement of surface mining <br />activities at the Chimney Rock Mine in November 1976. According to the records <br />maintained by the Colorado Division of Mines, the underground mining operations <br />commended in 1932. Approximately 200 tons of B Seam coal was removed from that time <br />until 1942. The Colorado Division of Highways disturbed approximately 10 acres through <br />its surface mining activities, The date such activities commenced and the amount of coal <br />removed is not readily available. <br />As stated above, the Chimney Rock Mine commenced surface mining operations in the <br />general area in November 1976. Although it does not have any specific zoning criteria <br />defining existing land uses and land use classifications, Archuleta County has provided the <br />Chimney Rock Mine with a letter of approval (Exhibit 3). <br />2.04.4 Cultural and Historic Resource Information <br />This Section provides for the description of the cultural and historic resources listed on the <br />National Register of Historic Places and known archaeological features within all areas <br />proposed or likely to be affected by surface activities. <br />Archaeological Resources <br />• 2.04-2 <br />