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Agricultural activities on the lower terraces and floodplain area are flood irrigated with water <br />derived from the Colorado River. Some of the lower areas may be marginally subirrigated by <br />alluvial groundwater. The proposed operation would not affect the quantity of flow in the <br />Colorado River stream/alluvial aquifer system. Disposal of coal refuse material in an adjacent <br />area, and the discharge of mine water from underground workings could affect water quality. <br />The Division has assessed the possible affects of these activities and has not identified any <br />significant change in water quality. <br />3. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations would be conducted to preserve, throughout the <br />mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floors <br />(4.24.2(1)). <br />PR -5 Findings Document <br />The essential hydrologic functions of the Colorado River alluvial valley floor are those geologic, <br />hydrologic, topographic, and soil characteristics that give the area the ability to support flood <br />irrigated agricultural activities. Subirrigation is a marginal function that is limited to a few of the <br />lower areas which are also capable of flood irrigation. Since no mining activities would take <br />place within the alluvial valley floor, the geologic, topographic, and soil characteristics of the <br />alluvial valley floor would be unaffected. Mining activities are expected to have no effect on the <br />Rapid Creek/Cottonwood Creek hydrologic system. Water quality in the Colorado River <br />stream/alluvial aquifer system may be slightly degraded but the ability to flood irrigate the <br />alluvial valley floors would not be affected. <br />The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />Permit Revision No. 5 57 July 10, 2012 <br />