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PERMIT 4: M-1985-031 <br /> INSPECTOR'S INITIALS: JHB <br /> INSPECTION DATE:November 4,2021 <br /> OBSERVATIONS <br /> On October 12, Montezuma County requested a reduction in acreage for a portion of the Mancos Gravel Pit. <br /> The Division determined the application complete on October 21, 2021. Montezuma County is requesting an <br /> acreage reduction of 21.5 acres. The purpose of this inspection is to evaluate the condition of the acreage <br /> requested for release. <br /> Janet Binns and Travis Marshall or CDRMS conducted the inspection. We were met by Rob Englehart and <br /> Virginia McKinney from Montezuma County Road and Bridge Department. <br /> Backfilling and Grading: <br /> The 21.5 reclaimed acres requested for acreage release are located west, southwest, south and southeast of <br /> the active pit and stockpile storage area. Based upon the Approved reclamation map, dated October 15, 1996, <br /> the operator has graded the reclaimed area in accordance with the plan. The side slopes do not appear to <br /> exceed 3h:1v in accordance with the approved map. <br /> Hydrologic Balance: <br /> There is a small detention pond located on the edge of the active pit in a natural drainage. Drainage from the <br /> reclaimed and active mining area drains to this drainage and detention pond. It appeared that only the <br /> undisturbed tops of the slopes might not drain to the pond. Run off from undisturbed areas does not need to <br /> drain to sediment control. Permanent grading of the reclaimed areas, and temporary grading of the active <br /> mining areas appear adequate to manage run off from the site. <br /> Reclamation Success: <br /> The reclaimed areas requested for Area Release will be discussed as 5 separate areas. The delineations are <br /> based on visual differences in the vegetation establishment and vegetation success. The reclamation seed mix <br /> as shown in the Mancos Pit permit and subsequent amendments to the permit consist of Pubescent <br /> wheatgrass, Bluegrass (no Species defined in the seed mix), and Western wheatgrass. The mining plan <br /> initiated at the southeastern portion (Phase 1) of the permit and progressed generally clockwise to the <br /> southwestern portion (Phase 2), Then northwest (Phase 3) then towards the Northeast (Phase 4). The center, <br /> north central, and northeast portions of the permit remain portions of the active pit and material storage. <br /> After meeting up at the entrance gate and parking towards the southern portion of the active pit, the <br /> inspection proceeded to the west to the southern Phase 3 and Phase 2 areas. No mining equipment was <br /> actively operating in the pit during the inspection. The Boundaries of the area requested for release were not <br /> marked in the field. <br /> The western area of the reclaimed acreage (South West Phase 3 and North West Phase 2 area) had a healthy <br /> cover of bunch grasses well established. Species noted included Pubescent wheatgrass and Western <br /> wheatgrass. This area was relatively flat with a slight slope to the south east. The western side of this area <br /> has a small slope, 10-12 feet high blending into the undisturbed area to the west. This slope has adequate <br /> grass established. Rill and gully formation was not noted on this slope. Some patches of annual forbs were <br /> noted, but these are not noxious weed species, and adequate perennial grasses have established as well. <br /> (Photos 1 and 2). <br /> Page 2 of 8 <br />