2015-02-18_REPORT - C1981014 (3)

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2014 Annual Reclamation Report Southfield Mine spring seasons during 2007 - 2008. Midsummer monsoon rains during 2008 then brought instant improvement & vigor to the vegetation. Moisture during 2009 was adequate for continued good growth. Although the fall season of 2010 had little rainfall, spring moisture and monsoon rains proved well for the vegetation. Reports by the Division (2011) state that the vegetation on the sites continue to do well and that the successful results are serving as an effective erosion control as well. The winter season of 2011 yielded very little snow melt and precipitation during 2012 was also very low. Although moisture was low, on the non - sloping sites, the vegetation appeared stunted but maintained sufficiently to serve adequately for erosion control. The southwest slope of the Refuge Disposal Area (RDA) did not fare as well during the summer season of 2012. Grasses were short and sparse on the south slope area but sufficient to curtail erosion on the slope. Only slight rilletts were noticeable on the south slope. Although precipitation was low during the spring of 2014, summer monsoon rains were quite abundant and vegetation responded with vigorous growth the rest of the season. The south slope of the RDA mentioned above, showed a noticeable improvement in response to the monsoon moisture. During the early summer season of 2014, the wattles previously installed on the embankment adjacent to the gravel parking area on the Vento property were cleaned of sediment build -up and straw plugs were compacted in the small holes where water had leaked beneath the wattles. During the fall of 2014, an additional wattle was added to the lower portion of the embankment. Previously Revegetated Areas (Loadout Site): The Loadout Area was seeded to the permanent revegetation seed mixture in 1997. Poor initial vegetative establishment resulted in the decision to reseed the entire Loadout Area in 1999. Limited topsoil availability and extended drought conditions had hindered effective vegetative reestablishment in the Loadout Area. Through ongoing discussions with the DRMS, limited interseeding (25 percent of area) of the reclaimed Loadout area was approved by the DMG (DRMS), with the understanding that this limited work would not affect the current liability schedule (10 -year liability period initiated by secondary reseeding in 1999). During March of 2011, due to trespassers entering both Loadout sites at each end,(NE and NW corners) a trench with berm was cut across each of the trespasser's entry points. During the report periods of 2012, 2013 and 2014, the trenches have served as an effective deterrent to trespasser vehicles at those entry points. Due to train rail cars coming and going through the loadout sites, trespassers are able to enter along the railroad tracks. Closing entrance gates has been futile with the trespassers and the rail cars continued destruction of the entrance gates in earlier years. IME, Inc., sample /monitored the Loadout site during the summer season of 2006. Results of data