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The Permit was found to be in compliance with Rule 4.24. <br />Information on alluvial valley floors is found in Sections 2.04.7, 2.06.8 and 4.24; Exhibit 7; and <br />Maps 7, 11, 12, 12A, 32 and 37 of the Permit. Additional information pertinent to alluvial valley <br />floor investigations conducted in association with Permit Revision No. 2, South Taylor and <br />Lower Wilson Pit areas, is presented in Section 2.06.8 of Volume 12, as well as Maps I IA and <br />17 of Volume 14. A detailed summary of alluvial valley floors identified during the original <br />permitting of the Colowyo mine can be found in the original findings document. <br />A. Designation of Alluvial Valley Floors <br />Stream Valley Segments Determined to be Alluvial Valley Floors <br />ThP. Nvkinn naC male fki- /l Pterminat:nn that nnrtlnns of four drain 411 ea an+a in "v <br />t/ l45 ill UVgm V11lJ 111 Vl <br />adjacent to the Colowyo permit area (as expanded by PR-2) are considered alluvial valley floors: <br />Good Spring Creek, Wilson Creek, Lower Elkhorn Creek, and Jubb Creek. These stream valleys <br />are shown on Map 11 A of the Permit. Neither Lower Elkhorn Creek nor Jubb Creek will be <br />affected directly or indirectly by mining at Colowyo. The designation of Jubb Creek as an AVF <br />is based solely on the presence of unconsolidated streamlaid deposits indicated on Map 11 A. <br />Insufficient information regarding current, potential, or historic flood irrigation, or presence of <br />subirrigated agricultural activity was provide for Jubb Creek, to allow for detailed assessment <br />and possible negative determination. <br />Flood irrigation may have occurred in the past along portions of Wilson Creek within the permit <br />area as expanded by Permit Revision 02. Small cropland parcels within a mile or so to the north <br />(downstream) of the permit boundary in the vicinity of Gossard Loadout were historically <br />irrigated cropland (grass hay). These parcels are currently in dryland wheat, no longer irrigated., <br />There is current flood irrigation (grass hay) along a segment of the stream immediately to the <br />south (upstream) of the expanded permit boundary. Portions of the Good Spring Creek valley <br />within and adjacent to the permit area, downstream of existing and proposed future operations <br />are currently flood irrigated. Ranchers grow pasture grasses for hay and livestock forage <br />production in the flood irrigated fields. A few wells and springs located along Goodspring Creek <br />are being used for stock watering. Good Spring, Lower Elkhorn Creeks, and portions of Wilson <br />Creek contain unconsolidated stream-laid materials and have sufficient water for sub-irrigation <br />to benefit agriculture. Due to the presence of flood irrigation along portions of these drainages <br />(see Map 17), as well as sufficient water for sub-irrigation and potential for flood irrigation in <br />other locations, portions of these stream valleys within and adjacent to the proposed permit area <br />have been found by the Division to be alluvial valley floors. Insufficient information has been <br />provided regarding water availability for flood irrigation or subirrigation agricultural activities <br />on Jubb Creek, and as a result, the segments of Jubb Creek and its tributaries mapped as Qa on <br />Map 11A have been determined at this time to meet the alluvial valley floor criteria (this <br />determination may be altered or refined in the future based on submittal of additional <br />information). Although a short reach of Jubb Creek is within a corner of the expanded permit <br />boundary, there are no proposed mine disturbances within the Jubb Creek watershed. <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance 14 September 2009 <br />Permit Renewal 05 Page 68