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XH. Operations on Alluvial Valley Floors <br />As part of PR-1, the applicant submitted adequate information for the Division to make the <br />required alluvial valley floor (AVF) determination and Findings in accordance with Section <br />2.06.8 of the Regulations. Additional information was submitted during the review of PR- <br />2, PR-3, and TR-50. All information on alluvial valley floors is provided in Tabs 16 and 17 <br />of the application. <br />AVF Determination <br />Seneca Coal Company conducted an extensive alluvial valley floor investigation of the <br />permit and adjacent area. This study included the use of aerial photos, alluvial completion <br />wells, stream gaging stations, and consultation with consulting firms and Federal agencies. <br />The study identified areas along Hubberson Gulch, Dry Creek and Sage Creek which meet <br />the criteria for designation as alluvial valley floors (AVF). Based on information available <br />at this time, the Division considers all lands mapped as Qa and Qvf on Exhibit 16-2 to be <br />alluvial valley floors with the exception of lands in upper Hubberson Creek, and with the <br />further exception of the small area of subirrigated meadow and wetland vegetation types <br />along Dry Creek in Section 9, TSN, R88W, immediately upstream of the old J.C. Temple <br />Reservoir #2 and adjacent to the former Olson Ranch buildings. The subirrigated meadow <br />and native wetland types are delineated on the "Map 1" Attachment to Exhibit 16-3, Sheet <br />2, which was submitted with TR-50 (Map 1 certification date 11/4/05). <br />Upper Hubberson Gulch Exclusion <br />During the review of PR-2, three areas mapped as Qa and Qvf in upper Hubberson Gulch <br />were further investigated to determine their designation as AVF's. The first two areas are <br />located in Sections 34 and the third is located in Section 21, TSN, R88W. The first area is <br />southeast of proposed Pond 017; the second area is northwest of the proposed Pond 017; <br />and the third area is south of two irrigated hay fields. All three fields are long, narrow <br />bands of alluvial deposits covering less than one acre total. These areas were determined <br />not to be AVF's. The areas are in narrow reaches of the canyon with a sinuous, incised <br />channel. Flood irrigation and farm production would not be economically feasible in these <br />areas. <br />Dry Creek Section 9 Exclusion <br />Seneca II-W Findings Document 55 C1982057 <br />Permit Renewal No. 5 December 9, 2010