_INSPECTION - C1981008 (57) - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 31,2017 C-1981-008/New Horizon Mine JHB weeds. REVEGETATION—Rule 4.15 Vegetative Cover; Timing: The inspection started at the irrigated pasture reference area located south of the mine office. This pasture is in good condition,and shows no evidence of recent livestock grazing. Cow pies observed were old. No side roll sprinklers were set up on this pasture for irrigation at this time. No cutting of the pasture had occurred yet this growing season at the time of the inspection. The SW corner of the pasture has been removed from the reference area. This corner has"shelf rock"close to the surface and tends toward thinner vegetative cover in this corner of the pasture. The Cedar Creek sampling crew was in the process of sampling the reclaimed dryland pasture when we caught up with them. Jesse Dillon was leading a sampling crew with 2 other samplers. Sampling was being conducted with a 10-point laser frame for determining cover, and clipping a 1/2 m2 quadrat for production.No woody stem density requirement applies to the dryland pasture so woody plant counts were not being conducted. The sampling methodology was in agreement with the permit and regulations. Both cover and production samples were collected to a minimum of 30 transects and quadrats in the dryland pasture to either meet sample adequacy or allow for accepted statistical analyses(reverse null calculations). 30 transects/quadrats will be collected in the dryland pasture reference area. 20 transects/quadrats will be sampled in both the reclaimed irrigated pasture and reference area irrigated pasture. Sample points are determined prior to filed work and a laid out on a systematic grid pattern. The Division finds this approach acceptable. The irrigated pasture was located immediately west of the dryland pasture. The pastures had been reclaimed in 2004, 2005 and 2007. The side roll sprinkler system was set up in the irrigated pasture. The operator informed the inspector that it had been turned off to allow for vegetation sampling. The cover in the reclaimed irrigated pasture was very good with no bare ground visible. Few weedy species were noted in either the dryland or irrigated reclaimed pastures. The dryland pasture reference area was fenced off and had an electric fence along one side. This reference area had not been grazed by livestock,however the operator is unable to control access by wildlife. Deer scat and elk scat were noted in the dryland reference area. DOCUMENTS RECEIVED NA OTHER(SPECIFY) NA ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS/COMPLIANCE No enforcement actions were initiated as a result of this inspection,nor are any pending. Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 9 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 3 Page 3 of 5