2020-07-02_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 44,40, .,s..#awi..tnv+%m.:0.9R+$Wsn„.Cx ..?4PM.,.aa w`r-•g••.<.a-.S o,r W'W' ,.. 1 400,t'.gydw+i�p +q.«wC i",,x, dim>. 404 seek this species for consumption.) The fourth circumstance would be inclusion of modest quantities of small burnett or nitrogen fixing legumes such as cicer milkvetch or alfalfa as supplemental forage for deer, elk, and livestock. In addition, cicer milkvetch has proven to be an excellent"habitat" plant for insects that are very important to foraging sage grouse chicks during the brooding period. 4.15.3 Seeding and Planting The seeding and planting of the disturbed area will be conducted during the first normal period for favorable planting conditions after final preparation for seeding or planting. The planting period and other revegetation metrics for Colowyo are set forth in Section 2.05.4. 4.15.4 Mulching and Other Soil Stabilizing Practices As addressed in Section 2.05.4,Colowyo currently does not mulch,chisel plow,or terrace,because sufficient surface roughness survives the topsoil laydown process to maintain the appropriate roughness for modeled sediment control conditions. When necessary, chisel plowing, discing, terracing and/or contour furrows could/would be utilized to stabilize, reduce compaction and increase the moisture retention of graded topsoiled areas. Chisel plowing is the most preferred method of initiating surface roughness at Colowyo, beyond the roughness created through topsoil laydown activities. Areas less than 10% slope at Colowyo have been identified as potentially targeted areas for the Sagebrush Steppe land use and will essentially require a smooth seedbed surface. If these Sagebrush Steppe areas occur in large patches in the future and encompass long sweeping slopes, moderate contour furrows will be established to mitigate any future sheet flow and loss of the topsoil resource. Efforts will be made to establish reclamation blocks along the contour of slopes in order to eliminate the loss of the topsoil resource onto spoil areas. All other areas targeted for the grazingland land use will generally be on slopes greater than 10% and depending on the size of each reclamation unit will need to be chisel plowed (or ripped with a dozer) at a minimum if topsoil laydown activities do not produce sufficient surface roughness to limit the excessive formation of rills on first and second year reclamation blocks by "normal" seasonal runoff events. Contour furrows will be created with regular frequency on slopes greater than 20% and less frequently on areas between 10% and 20% slopes depending on the length of the slope and the size of individual reclamation blocks as determined by topsoil laydown progression in any given year or series of years. Past reclamation efforts undertaken in the East Pit provide a general context to the likely construction frequency of contour furrows in the West Pit and Section 16 reclamation areas. The steeper slopes in the South Taylor area will likely require the construction of contour furrows at a greater frequency than previously mined areas. As indicated under "Mulching Techniques" in Section 2.05.4, use of mulch would be considered a last resort,but is certainly an erosion control metric that may be utilized(where deemed necessary) for long south-facing slopes such as in South Taylor. Spoil will be graded to minimize long, uninterrupted slopes. Replacement of topsoil will be followed by chisel plowing and contour furrowing (when necessary). The use of these soil stabilizing practices on areas currently undergoing reclamation at Colowyo has been very effective in controlling surface runoff, thereby preventing surface erosion and Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-49 Revision Date: 1/22/20 Revision No.: TR-136