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E <br />• <br />17-? <br />1985), and in the McClane Canyon Mine permit application. The AVFs are located <br />within the canyon portion of the drainages and within the first mile or two after the <br />drainages leave the narrow canyons (Figure 1). A site reconnaissance indicated that the <br />AVF in East Salt Creek extends downstream approximately 0.5 miles from the where <br />Highway 139 crosses the creek. This parcel is flood irrigated for agricultural purposes. <br />Irrigation ditches and single crop (hay) agriculture were observed during the site visit. <br />Downstream of this location, the drainage supports natural subirrigated vegetation, such <br />as cottonwoods and tamarisk within the incised portion of the stream that is limited to <br />approximately 25 feet on either side of the active channel. In general, the flood plain has <br />non-subirrigated species such as greasewood and rabbit brush. Except as noted below, <br />there were no indications of flood irrigation or agriculture, other than grazing, <br />downstream of the identified AVF. Conditions are similar in the Big Salt Creek drainage. <br />There may be AVFs along these two drainages a considerable distance downstream of the <br />mine Study Area Boundary, but these are beyond the scope of this investigation because <br />it is highly unlikely they would be impacted by this proposed mine (see Conclusions). <br />However, there are at least two agricultural fields adjacent to East Salt Creek upstream of <br />the Highline Canal that may receive irrigation water from East Salt Creek. Because there <br />would be no change in either water quality or quantity in East Salt Creek surface water <br />due to operation of the Red Cliff Mine, this area is not considered to be an adjacent area, <br />whether it functions as an AVF or not. <br />Conclusions <br />The only known AVFs are located in areas outside of the Red Cliff Study Area <br />Boundary. These AVFs are located across the probable ground water gradient and in <br />surface water drainages that only receive runoff water from the study area downstream of <br />the AVFs. There are no mine operations that would impact AVFs in the adjacent areas <br />because they are not in direct hydrologic connection to drainages within the Study Area <br />Boundary. The proposed water balance for the mine does not include any operation or <br />process that would impact the hydrology of the adjacent areas. The following lists the <br />key water balance issues: <br />ERO Resources Corp. <br />AVF Determination - Red Cliff Mine <br />Page S <br />6/19/2008