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Information on alluvial valley floors is found in Sections 2.04.7, 2.06.8 and 4.24; Exhibit 7; and <br />Maps 7, 11, 12, 12A, 32 and 37 of the Permit. A detailed summary of alluvial valley floors can <br />be found in the original findings document. <br />A. Designation of Alluvial Valley Floors <br />Portions of three drainages at Colowyo are considered alluvial valley floors: Goodspring Creek, <br />Wilson Creek and Lower Elkhorn Creek. These alluvial valley floors are shown on Map 10 of <br />the Permit. Lower Elkhorn Creek will not be affected directly or indirectly by mining at <br />Colowyo. <br />Flood irrigation has and is occurring along portions of Wilson Creek outside the Colowyo permit <br />area. A few wells and springs located along Goodspring Creek are being used for stock watering. <br />Wilson, Goodspring and Lower Elkhorn Creeks contain unconsolidated stream -laid materials <br />and have sufficient water for sub - irrigation to benefit agriculture and are thus are determined to <br />be alluvial valley floors. Lower Taylor Creek, a tributary to Wilson Creek, contains small areas <br />with alluvial deposits but does not contain enough water to provide for sub - irrigation of <br />croplands. Taylor Creek, which will be mined in its upper reaches, is therefore not considered an <br />alluvial valley floor. <br />The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or adjacent <br />area of the Collom expansion area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the alluvial <br />valley floors located in Collom Gulch, Little Collom Gulch and Morgan Gulch outside of the <br />permit area. These AVFs will not be affected by mining at Colowyo. A short segment of Jubb <br />Creek passes through the northwest corner of the expanded permit area. Jubb Creek is not within <br />the affected area and is not hydrologically connected to the affected area and thus not be affected <br />by mining at Colowyo. <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by the Applicant will not interrupt, discontinue or <br />preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or naturally sub - irrigated [Rule <br />4.24.3 (1)] In addition, the proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality <br />of water in the surface or ground water system described above [Rules 4.24.3(3) and <br />2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)]. Lastly, the proposed activities will comply with the requirements of the Act and <br />the Regulations with respect to alluvial valley floors [Rule 2.06.8(5)(b)(ii)(b)]. Surface coal <br />mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the essential hydrologic <br />functions of alluvial valley floors outside the permit area and to reestablish the essential <br />hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the affected area throughout the mining and <br />reclamation process (Rule 4.24.2). <br />Colowyo Coal Mine C1981 -019 PR -03 70 April 10, 2013 <br />