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August 26, 2020 C-2010-089/New Horizon North Mine JHB <br />Runoff that passes through (or under) the silt fencing is caught by Pond 001 south ditch, then directed into Pond <br />001. Runoff is not short circuiting the sedimentation system. The silt fencing was installed to minimize the rilling <br />and potential sediment deposition into the pond, and retain soil on the field. <br />Pond 1 was holding a shallow pool of water in the eastern end of the pond. (Photo 7) The west end of Pond 001 <br />was dry. Due to the dry conditions, the inslopes of the pond are thin on vegetation. Upon closer investigation, <br />grass plants are present though sparse and stunted this year. The pond inslopes are not eroding and noxious weeds <br />have not invaded. <br />HNH-002 South ditch has trees species, Cottonwood saplings becoming established in the bottom of the pond. <br />(Photo 14) The ditch needs to be able to function as designed. Saplings establishing on the sides of the ditch <br />should not impede flows in the ditch, but the saplings in the bottom of the ditch have the potential to become <br />vegetative litter traps, and clog the flow in the ditch. The operator needs to cut the saplings growing in the bottom <br />of the ditch. Also several small tamarisk are establishing on the side of this ditch. (Photo 10) The noxious <br />tamarisk plant need to be controlled. The location of the tree saplings and tamarisk in the NHN-002 South ditch <br />were just north of the Garvey house. <br />Pond 002 had a shallow puddle of water at the south end of the pond. The majority of the pond was dry. Inslopes <br />and inlet to the pond were in good condition with no issues identified. <br />At the groundwater monitoring cluster, wells 53, 54, and 55, there is a gully forming on the south of the pad where <br />the wells are located. (Photos 11 and 12) This gully drains to the county road. If this gully is a result of water <br />being discharged during water sampling events, it should drain to the ditch, and ultimately Pond 002 and not <br />leaving the permit untreated. <br />REVEGETATION — Rule 4.15 <br />Vegetative Cover; Timing: <br />The southwest portion of the state has been experiencing a drought. At the mine the only areas where the <br />vegetation receives irrigation water, does the vegetation look healthy. Non -irrigated native areas and dryland <br />pastures appear stressed. The Irrigated Pasture (Garvey field) was looking very healthy dominated by alfalfa with <br />some grasses under the alfalfa. The alfalfa was about knee high and in10-15% bloom. The irrigation sprinklers <br />were not operating during the inspection. Frank said he thought the farmer would be cutting the crop soon. <br />Dryland pasture areas were very dry and exhibiting mostly annual or biennial species. Some perennial grasses <br />were established, but they appeared rather stunted. <br />Most of the reclaimed areas were free of noxious weed species. Several small, roughly two foot tall, tamarisk <br />plant were noted in the NHN-002 South Ditch. The location was just north of the Garvey house. (Photo ) <br />Tamarisk are a noxious weed species that need to be controlled. Elimination of these few plants while they are <br />young will be easier to manage than allowing them to mature. <br />SUPPORT FACILITIES - Rule 4.04: <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />Page 3 of 7 <br />