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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />species would provide the necessary protection. (Prior to use of aggressive taxa to combat areas that <br />are highly susceptible to erosion, an MR or TR (as appropriate) will be obtained from CDRMS to <br />address such circumstances.) The third possible circumstance would be the inclusion of orchard grass at <br />elevated densities in certain locations designed to encourage elk away from other sites. (It has been <br />documented that elk specifically seek this species for consumption.) The fourth circumstance would be <br />inclusion of modest quantities of small burnett or nitrogen fixing legumes such as cicer milkvetch or <br />alfalfa as supplemental forage for deer, elk, and livestock. In addition, cicer milkvetch has proven to be <br />an excellent "habitat" plant for insects that are very important to foraging sage grouse chicks during the <br />brooding period. <br />4.15.3 Seeding and Planting <br />The seeding and planting of the disturbed area will be conducted during the first normal period for <br />favorable planting conditions after final preparation for seeding or planting. The planting period and other <br />revegetation metrics for Colowyo are set forth in Section 2.05.4. <br />4.15.4 Mulching and Other Soil Stabilizing Practices <br />As addressed in Section 2.05.4, Colowyo currently does not mulch, chisel plow, or terrace, because <br />sufficient surface roughness survives the topsoil laydown process to maintain the appropriate roughness <br />for modeled sediment control conditions. When necessary, chisel plowing, discing, terracing and/or <br />contour furrows could/would be utilized to stabilize, reduce compaction and increase the moisture <br />retention of graded topsoiled areas. Chisel plowing is the most preferred method of initiating surface <br />roughness at Colowyo, beyond the roughness created through topsoil laydown activities. Areas less than <br />10% slope at Colowyo have been identified as potentially targeted areas for the Sagebrush Steppe land <br />use and will essentially require a smooth seedbed surface. If these Sagebrush Steppe areas occur in large <br />patches in the future and encompass long sweeping slopes, moderate contour furrows will be established <br />to mitigate any future sheet flow and loss of the topsoil resource. Efforts will be made to establish <br />reclamation blocks along the contour of slopes in order to eliminate the loss of the topsoil resource onto <br />spoil areas. All other areas targeted for the grazingland land use will generally be on slopes greater than <br />10% and depending on the size of each reclamation unit will need to be chisel plowed (or ripped with a <br />dozer) at a minimum if topsoil laydown activities do not produce sufficient surface roughness to limit the <br />excessive formation of rills on first and second year reclamation blocks by "normal" seasonal runoff <br />events. Contour furrows will be created with regular frequency on slopes greater than 20% and less <br />frequently on areas between 10% and 20% slopes depending on the length of the slope and the size of <br />individual reclamation blocks as determined by topsoil laydown progression in any given year or series of <br />years. Past reclamation efforts undertaken in the East Pit provide a general context to the likely <br />construction frequency of contour furrows in the West Pit and Section 16 reclamation areas. The steeper <br />slopes in the South Taylor area will likely require the construction of contour furrows at a greater <br />frequency than previously mined areas. As indicated under "Mulching Techniques" in Section 2.05.4, use <br />of mulch would be considered a last resort, but is certainly an erosion control metric that may be utilized <br />(where deemed necessary) for long south -facing slopes such as in South Taylor. Spoil will be graded to <br />minimize long, uninterrupted slopes. Replacement of topsoil will be followed by chisel plowing and <br />contour furrowing (when necessary). <br />The use of these soil stabilizing practices on areas currently undergoing reclamation at Colowyo has been <br />very effective in controlling surface runoff, thereby preventing surface erosion and gullies. The efficacy <br />of these mechanical techniques will continue to be closely monitored as changes to the reclamation <br />program are initiated. <br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-42 Revision Date: 1/31/18 <br />Revision No.: TR -119 <br />