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in recent years. Further, the largest contiguous acreage of potentially subirrigated grass <br />meadow owned by a single landowner is 1.1 acres. Estimated production from the 1.1 <br />acre field would support less than 3 animal unit months (AUM's). <br />The Division concludes that the Dry Creek Section 9 parcels do not constitute an alluvial <br />valley floor. This finding is based on the fact that the native wetland community does <br />not support agriculturally useful vegetation and as such does not meet AVF criteria. <br />Further, the meadow parcels, due to small size, split ownership, and limited production <br />potential do not play a significant role in support of an economically viable ranching or <br />farming operation, nor do they serve a special role in agricultural land use in the region. <br />As such, the meadow parcels do not meet AVF criteria. <br />AVF Findings <br />The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or <br />adjacent area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the alluvial valley floors <br />known as Sage Creek, Hubberson Gulch, and Dry Creek located east, west, and <br />northwest, respectively, of the permit boundary. <br />1. With regard to Dry Creek, the Division finds that activities proposed by the <br />applicant will not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial valley <br />floors that are irrigated or naturally subirrigated except for small areas which may <br />provide negligible support for the farm's agricultural production (4.24.3(1)) and <br />2.06.8(5)(a)(i)). <br />The only mining related activity which would interrupt farming on an alluvial valley <br />floor was the tie across haul road which will now be removed from the permit area <br />with approval of PR -6. The Division previously determined that the 2.3 acres of <br />hayland on the Dry Creek AVF which would be taken out of production represented <br />only 0.2% of the farm unit and was therefore of negligible impact. Actual mining <br />operations were conducted a half mile or more from the alluvial deposits of <br />Hubberson Gulch, Dry Creek, and Sage Creek. <br />2. With regard to Hubberson Gulch, Sage Creek and Dry Creek, the activities will not <br />materially damage the quantity or quality of water in the surface or ground water <br />system (4.24.3(3) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)), and the proposed activities will comply with <br />the requirements of the Act and the Regulations with respect to alluvial valley floors <br />(2.06.8(5)(a)(iii). <br />a. On Hubberson Gulch, a 26 acre subirrigated and flood irrigated hayfield, and a <br />point of diversion are located in portions of Sections 16 and 21, TSN, R88W. <br />The fields are downstream from Pond 016 and 017 discharge points and <br />upstream from the 006 Gulch confluence. This field is a small part of a much <br />larger ranching operation. Hay production from this field contributes <br />Seneca II -W Findings Document 55 C- 1982 -057 <br />Permit Revision No. 6 January 6, 2012 <br />