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Sage Creek "Flood Irrigated Alfalfa Fields" <br />The Yoast application indicates the presence of approximately 86 acres of flood <br />irrigated alfalfa hay along Sage Creek in Section 30. Five to ten acres of alfalfa <br />were flood irrigated in this field from 1988-1992. The field was irrigated by means <br />of pipes spreading water from a small reservoir near Sage Creek. The reservoir does <br />not currently impound water because the dam is breached. <br />The field was converted to dryland wheat for a number of reasons. Water <br />availability for irrigation was marginal, however, future restoration of the dam and <br />flood irrigation of the field is a remote possibility. The creek typically dries up in <br />July or August. <br />In PR-1, SCC addressed the potential for flood irrigation in the Section 30 field. It is <br />unlikely a reservoir in Sage Creek will be rebuilt. Two previous dams have failed <br />and the increased engineering specifications and costs involved in rebuilding the <br />dam would be significant. Without the dam, water availability is insufficient for <br />flood irrigation. The Division agrees with the SCC's assessment of water <br />availability in Sage Creek and finds that the area has no potential for successful <br />irrigation. <br />Based on information presented for Yoast PR-1, the Seneca II-West permit <br />application package and the Division's Findings for the Seneca II-West permit that <br />identify this area as an AVF, the Division finds the field in Section 30 meets the <br />regulatory definition of an alluvial valley floor because it may be subirrigated. <br />However, only a minor portion of the alluvial valley floor is subirrigated, according <br />to Exhibit 16-3. Furthermore, the field is seven miles downstream from the nearest <br />discharge point for potential spoil springs. Therefore, the potential for material <br />damage to the quality of water supplying ground water to the alluvial valley floor is <br />insignificant. <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by SCC will not interrupt, discontinue or <br />preclude farming on the alluvial valley floor in Section 30 that may be naturally <br />subirrigated. (4.24.3(1) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(i)). <br />The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in <br />the surface or ground water system described above that would provide water to the <br />field in Section 30 (4.24.3(3) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)). <br />The proposed activities will comply with the requirements of the Act and the <br />regulations with respect to alluvial valley floors (2.06.8(5)(a)(iii)). <br />Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the <br />essential hydrologic functions of alluvial floors outside the permit area. (4.24.2) <br />An environmental monitoring system has been installed, maintained, and operated <br />Yoast Mine 40 December 15, 2010