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approximately five feet into the capillary fringe. No existing or historic flood irrigation has been <br />identified in Sudduth Draw (page 785-16aa). The analysis of regional flood irrigation practices <br />(Exhibit 38) does not indicate that the area is capable of flood irrigation. <br />Alluvial Valley Floors - Illinois River - Findings <br />1. The proposed surface coal mining operations will not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude <br />farming on an alluvial valley floor. <br />The loadout is a pre-law disturbance. Areas immediately adjacent to the loadout include <br />the marsh, a former lumber mill, and the railroad. The bench itself, although located <br />within the floodplain, is in a marshy area that would not have supported agricultural <br />activities prior to bench constructions. <br />2. The proposed surface coal mining and reclamation operations will not materially damage <br />the quantity and quality of water in surface and groundwater systems that supply those <br />alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. <br />Nearby areas within the Illinois River alluvial valley floor are used for pasture and <br />grazing lands, irrigated hay field, and as wildlife habitat (page 785-36). Loadout <br />operations will not diminish the supply of surface water to the alluvial valley floor. <br />Monitoring of sediment pond effluent and the adjacent irrigation ditch has not indicated <br />any adverse change in water quality. <br />The loadout is located in a groundwater discharge zone, surface flow is diverted away <br />from coal stockpiles, and structures and stockpiles are located above the alluvium on a <br />compacted man-made fill; therefore, no effects are anticipated. <br />3. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve, <br />throughout the mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic functions of the <br />alluvial valley floor. <br />The loadout will not physically disturb adjacent alluvial valley floors. The supply of <br />surface water supplied to the alluvial valley floor will not be affected by the loadout. <br />Alluvial Valley Floor - Canadian River - Findings <br />1. The proposed surface coal mining operations will not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude <br />farming on an alluvial valley floor. <br />None of the proposed mining operations will be located within the alluvial valley floor. <br />In addition, most of the surface coal mining operations included in this permit, within the <br />Bolton Draw watershed, have already been conducted under previous mining permits. <br />26