Laserfiche WebLink
Mine. Based on information presented by the applicant, discussions with the Routt <br />County office of the Natural Resource Conservation Service, interviews with <br />farmers, and field reconnaissance, the Division agrees with the applicant's <br />conclusion. No alluvial valley floors exist in the permit area or the adjacent Grassy <br />Creek watershed, which are in hydrologic communication with the Yoast Mine. <br />As a result of 1990 AVF investigations in the Sage Creek watershed, Seneca Coal <br />Company concluded there are no AVF's in this basin in hydrologic communication <br />with the Yoast Mine. Based on information submitted by the applicant, field <br />reconnaissance, interviews with farmers, and previous findings by the Division and <br />the applicant related to the Seneca II-West Mine, the Division does not concur with <br />the applicant's conclusion. The Division concludes that two areas along Sage Creek <br />downstream from the Yoast permit area meet the regulatory definition of alluvial <br />valley floors. These areas are discussed below. <br />Sage Creek Reservoir Site <br />Two fields located just upstream from the former Sage Creek Reservoir dam <br />(Sections 13 and 18) are identified in the Yoast application as subirrigated native <br />wetlands and subirrigated grass hay. The native wetland area is basically the area <br />once covered by the reservoir, which failed in 1985. This area is currently used for <br />grazing. The area immediately upstream from the former reservoir site is currently <br />used as a grass hay field. <br />These fields are located in the upper reaches of Sage Creek, and therefore are not <br />typical of alluvial valley floors in this area with agricultural potential. However, the <br />upper field (approximately 10 acres) is currently being farmed for hay, and the other <br />larger field appears to have the potential to be put to use as a subirrigated hay field. <br />Furthermore, during a site visit on May 19, 1995, the upper grass hay field was <br />being flood irrigated by means of an irrigation ditch along the eastern edge of the <br />field. This was confirmed during the review of PR-1. Due to the existence of flood <br />irrigation and the presence of subirrigation of the unconsolidated streamlaid deposits <br />in the fields immediately upstream from the old Sage Creek Reservoir, these fields <br />are determined to be alluvial valley floors. <br />The field just above the breached Sage Creek dam is dissected by the streambed. <br />This area is undeveloped rangeland that is currently used for grazing. The limited <br />size of the field would make it difficult for farm equipment to operate. This field <br />is not typical of agriculturally productive alluvial valley floors in this region. <br />However, the upper field in Section 18, T5N R88W, is currently being farmed for <br />hay. The creek was diverted from the center to the perimeter of the field and the <br />creek bed was filled to create a manageable flood irrigated field. The field is ten <br />acres and is flood irrigated during high flow. The family that manages the field <br />does not have adjudicated water rights for the surface water in Sage Creek. They <br />have an agreement for early runoff withdrawals, allowing limited flood irrigation <br />Yoast Mine 38 December 15, 2010