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<br />embankment with properly placed boulder fill materials. This alternative should not comprise the ditch <br />integrity and would allow the original ditch to be used after the hillside has been stabilized. The second <br />alternative would be to remove all of the failed/redeposited soils located within the failed area, as well as <br />remove the fill materials that were placed over the natural hillside above and next to the failed azea. If this <br />alternative is opted for, the irrigation ditch in the area of the slide and wherever the fill materials have been <br />removed will have to be abandoned and a pipeline will need be constructed to convey the water flows <br />across this area. In addition, a majority of the existing road/berm will probably be removed as the fill <br />materials aze removed. <br />If the first alternative is opted for, we would recommend that natural hillside and existing fill embankment <br />be reconstructed by placing boulder fill materials in the failed areas after all of the mud and debris have <br />been removed. Based on our limited observations, it appears that the toe of the boulder fill should start at a <br />point located approximately'/~ way between the creek and the lower roadway failure. The boulders should <br />be properly keyed benched at least 2 feet into the natural sands and gravels after all of the failed materials <br />and natural topsoil materials aze removed. The boulder fill should then be constructed up the failed azea <br />and to an elevation equal to the top of the berm that is located adjacent to the irrigation ditch. The outside <br />face of the boulder fill materials should match the slope configuration of the surrounding natural hillside <br />and/or previously placed fill materials. We recommend that durable boulders at least 2 to 3 feet in diameter <br />be used in the boulder fill. <br />We believe that the benefits of this alternative aze that the irrigation ditch and adjacent roadway can be <br />used after the boulder fill materials have been properly placed; the seepage coming out of the failed azea <br />will not have to be stopped, since the boulder fills will provide a stable and free draining buttress fill; and <br />there appears to be an adequate source of boulders on the Elk Fork Ranch property to complete the boulder <br />fill construction. One drawback to this alternative is that it will take time for the contractor to generate <br />enough boulders to complete the boulder fill and time is of the essence with regards to turning the ditch <br />back on. <br />If the second alternative is opted for and a pipeline is constructed in the ditch above the failed area, it is <br />imperative that the pipeline be of sufficient size to handle the maximum adjudicated flow, as well as the <br />additional flows that could occur due to a large storm event. The sizing of this pipe is beyond our scope of <br />work and expertise. However, we recommend that the pipe be properly keyed into the natural soils and <br />bedrock materials that are exposed on the uphill side of the irrigation ditch. In addition, the pipe should be <br />protected from rock fall damage by placing at least 2 feet of soil cover over the top of the pipe. The <br />pipeline will have to extend far enough upstream and downstream of the failed area to cutoff and stop the <br />seepage that is occurring in the failed area. It must be noted that this alternative will not be effective if the <br />seepage is not stopped since fwther slope failures could occur if the seepage is allowed to saturate the <br />topsoil and fill materials that aze situated both upstream and downstream of the failed azea. The fill <br />materials above and along the sides of the failed area will have to be removed and,'or laid back to a more <br />stable configuration. We would recommend that the fill materials be laid back to a 2 (Horizontal) : 1 <br />(Vertical) or flatter slope configuration. lh addition, all of the disturbed soils must be removed from the <br />failed azea, as wells as below the failed area. After the disturbed soils are removed, we recommend that the <br />disturbed areas be covered with a layer of boulders (rip-rap) to help prevent further erosion in and below <br />• Job Number. 03-5547 NWCC, inc. Page 4 <br />