Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Sediment and Erosion Control Function <br />Pond K continues to provide sediment control functions for most of the areas reclaimed in 1991. <br />Contour furrows and revegetation continue to be successful in controlling erosion, especially at <br />the south end of the mine. The Upper and Lower ponds control only a small area and as such are <br />only minimally effective. Total capacity of these two ponds is less than 0.2 acre feet. No <br />significant riling or gullying has taken place to any degree which would affect the post-mining <br />land-use of rangeland or which would negatively affect the environment. <br />Reclamation Completed and General Reclaimed Area Stability <br />Virtually all reclamation has been completed at the mine site. One structure, a maintenance shed <br />has been left in place at the request of the landowner, and the sediment ponds still remain. No <br />monies are left to perform any reclamation or repair work. The reclaimed areas appeaz relatively <br />stable and show only minor signs of instability or mass movement. The azea is and old <br />underground mining site and there are subsidence features located in the areas surrounding the <br />reclaimed pits. The Upper pond had a small 10 foot diameter rotational slump appear on the <br />outslope of the dam face but due to the small size of the pond and the size of the slump, this does <br />not appear to be a hazard. The surrounding areas, in their native state, are prone to underground <br />mine subsidence and surface rilling and gullying. These problems have not affected the reclaimed <br />azeas nor have they been caused by recent mining activities. <br />A survey of the vegetation on site included the following species: <br />Needle & Thread, Scazlet Globemallow, Horsemint, Mountain Brome, Basin Wildrye, <br />Penstemon, Western Wheatgrass, Cicer Milkvetch, Alfalfa, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Slender <br />Wheatgrass, Blue Bunch Wheatgrass, Orchazdgrass, Lupine, Blue Gramma, Cutleaf Daisy, <br />Blanket Flower, Yellow Sweetclover, Lupine, Ground Cherry, Cheatgrass, Yellow <br />Salsify, Curlycup Gumweed, Prickly Pear, Snow on the Mountain, and Fringed <br />Cromwell. <br />The dominant species are the wheat grasses, wildrye, and yellow Sweetclover. Weeds on site <br />include Curlycup Gumweed and Musk Thistle, however, these are only sporadic and are less <br />abundant than what exists on the surrounding undisturbed land. <br />Proposed Reduced Inspection Frequency <br />The Division proposes to inspect this site on a seasonal basis beginning in April or at the first <br />opportunity when snow conditions allow access. This first seasonal inspection will be a complete <br />inspection, documenting ground conditions after spring runoff has effectively ceased. The second <br />seasonal inspection will be done in the fall, following any site maintenance activities that may <br />have been conducted during the field (summer) season. This inspection plan results in two site <br />inspections each year, with possible additional site visits during any maintenance work. <br />