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B. Primary Impacts <br />None of the four designated alluvial valley floors are within the area to be mined; therefore, <br />mining operations will not cause direct disturbance to any alluvial valley floors. Any mining <br />impact that might occur will be indirect in nature. <br />C. Secondary Impacts <br />It is believed that the areas to be mined presently contribute relatively little water to alluvial <br />valley floors. Any degraded water that might reach an alluvial valley floor would be diluted by <br />other sources. In addition, alluvial valley floors are protected by both stream buffer zones and <br />treatment of runoff from disturbed areas by sediment ponds. <br />The Gossard Loadout is located near the confluence of Wilson and Taylor Creeks and the <br />alluvial valley floor associated with Wilson Creek. There is a slight potential for waters of <br />degraded quality to reach alluvial materials near the loadout. An alluvial well located near the <br />loadout is monitoring this situation. Runoff from the surrounding areas above the loadout are <br />diverted around the disturbance and waters from the disturbance itself are treated in sediment <br />ponds and must meet CDPS standards before being released. <br />Waters leaching salts from reclaimed spoils may eventually reach Taylor, Wilson and Good <br />Spring Creeks. It is believed that these spoil waters will still meet CDPS standards and will not <br />contribute salts in levels that would warrant changes in mining and reclamation plans. This <br />situation will be monitored through alluvial wells located on Wilson Creek (near the Gossard <br />Loadout) and on Good Spring Creek and West Fork Good Spring Creek, both above and below <br />mining disturbances. <br />A particular concern raised by the Division during the PR -02 review was the potential that high <br />salinity spoil water discharged from proposed South Taylor Pit backfill areas into the West Fork <br />of Good Spring Creek would increase salinity levels on the main stem of Good Spring Creek, <br />potentially causing material damage by significantly reducing forage production on irrigated <br />fields on the Good Spring Creek alluvial valley floor. The potential for material damage was <br />assessed by the Division based on salt loading projections. Based on this analysis, the Division <br />has determined that the proposed operation will not result in material damage to the Good Spring <br />Creek alluvial valley floor. Monitoring of spoil springs, alluvial aquifers on the West Fork and <br />main stem of Good Spring Creek, and surface water in the West Fork and main stem will be <br />conducted to verify that worst case salt loading projections are not exceeded. <br />Details of Colowyo's water monitoring plan are found in Section 4.05.13 of the PAP. <br />D. Specific Findings Required by Rule 4.24 <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by Colowyo will not interrupt, discontinue, or <br />preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or naturally sub - irrigated. In <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance January 2012 <br />Permit Renewal 06 Page 156 <br />