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U <br />The objective of a reclamation is to begin the process of returning the <br />land to a facsimile of past landform, plant community species composition <br />and density, plus a functional hydrology with appropriate drainage. In <br />many cases, the passage of time and naturally occurring processes will <br />produce a desirable outcome. The well designed reclamation plan, <br />combined with robust implementation, will hasten this process. <br />Reclamation is dynamic and requires the monitoring of progress, with the <br />potential for implementing a different technique when failure occurs. <br />It is possible that over the life of the project not all of the methods <br />discussed will be implemented. The methods are not all inclusive either, <br />but those listed provide a foundation for interim and final reclamation. <br />Contouring and Earth Work <br />The objective of contouring is to return the wells, roads, and other <br />surface alterations to the landform of the surrounding undisturbed terrain. <br />A contour plan may rely on surveyed or mapped contours from before the <br />project was implemented. Many older projects have limited, or no data <br />available that define historical conditions. In this case, one may use older <br />USGS topographical maps, a topographical survey of the current or <br />existing conditions, and USGS digital elevation models (DEMs). These <br />may be used singularly or in combination to design contours that match <br />the surrounding elevations and drainages (see Figure Al). The objective <br />is to produce a functional landscape that does not visually appear to be <br />displaced. Photos Al and AZ show dirt work and a final contour after <br />seeding on a reclamation project: <br />50 P a g e <br />1'01k: POW ELL GRAVLI, PI 1'. VISM DLL SCJL RANCI I <br />BY GREAT RASIN1 UNV I 1kON,%4LNTAL AND A[;tIA J 1( S - WWW,UkI 1 i R 1tiINI NV I L.0 f.1 -M <br />