Upper Arkansas River MOU Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 2

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Other Activities + As part of their on -going research, the Colorado Division of Wildlife continues to collect water samples in the Upper Arkansas River Basin and is conducting toxicity tests in October/November 2000. + The Bureaus of Land Management and Reclamation collected and analyzed soils from the flood plain in the downstream area as well as in some irrigated pastures near Leadville this past summer. After the lab work is completed, the data will be submitted to the Consulting Team. + The Environmental Protection agency continued its demonstration projects in the 11 -mile reach. The following is an update: EPA Soil Amendment and Revegetation Demonstration Projects During the past three summers, EPA has performed soil amendment/revegetation projects on tailings deposits in the 11 -mile reach. This year the work was located south of the U.S. Highway 24 overpass and north of County Road 100 on the Hayden Ranch property. Several soil amendment, seeding and bank stabilization methods were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of these techniques. A side benefit to this work is that the demonstration sites will provide an educational experience at the Hayden Meadows Recreation Area, part of the Lake County Open Space Initiative. Informational signs will soon be placed to inform visitors of the various soil amendment, seeding and bank stabilization methods. Colorado Mountain College may also use these sites for environmental education. • �v -,,��. Yid Tailings were amended with a combination of biosolids pellets, compost, and lime. The biosolids pellets provide organic matter. Compost also provides organic matter and contributes a higher amount of carbon than found in the biosolids pellets, due to the wood chips added during composting. Lime is used to raise the soil pH and to neutralize acid generated by the oxidation of the pyritic material often found in the tailings. Lime was added in two forms: lime kiln dust (calcium hydroxide) and agricultural grade limestone (calcium carbonate). Eroding riverbanks were stabilized using several techniques. In two locations, buried rip -rap walls were installed to prevent large scale migration of the river. In another location, the bank was graded back to a 2:1 slope, biologs were placed near the base flow water level, willow cuttings were planted, and two foot boulders were placed in front of the bank. With the assistance of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, two additional bank stabilization methods were used to increase fish habitat while stabilizing the riverbank. In one location, boulder weirs were placed angling upstream and extending approximately 1/3 of the stream width. In another location, root wads were installed adjacent to the bank. These two locations will be monitored to determine the effectiveness of these methods in minimizing bank erosion. Fish were observed at each location shortly after installation. Additional research plots were installed on the tailings deposits on the Smith Ranch by University of Washington graduate students. One series of test plots looks at a range of carbon/nitrogen ratios using biosolids pellets and coarse, woody material. Another set of test plots is intended to study the effect of the type of lime amendment on alkalinity and calcium movement within the soil profile up to three feet deep. Types of lime studied *include lime kiln dust, coarse limestone, agricultural grade limestone, fine limestone and sugar beet lime. Soil samples will be collected through the soil profile on a regular basis. Grass planted in 1999 on sites treated with lime and biosolids in 1998 is growing in and is more than five feet high in some locations. Sites treated in 1999 and 2000 were seeded in October 2000. All MOU- related documents are available for public review at the following Information Repositories: + Lake County Library, 1115 Harrison, Leadville (719- 486 -0569) Nancy McCain + Colorado Mountain College, Timberline Campus, Learning Resources Center, 901 S. Hwy. 24, Leadville Co. (719- 486 -4249) Sharon Moller + Salida Regional Library, 405 E St., Salida (719 -539 -4826) Jeff Donlan + Buena Vista Public Library, 131 Linderman Ave, Buena Vista (719- 395 -8700) Gail Nottingham.