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REVEGETATION -continued <br />The dominant grasses were bromegrasses and wheatgrasses. Forbs were dominated by cicer <br />milkvetch. Yellow sweet clover was locally abundant; gumweed was found in a few places. Woody <br />species were dominated by snowberry, sagebrush, and woods rose. <br />Small patches of Canada thistle were found on the northwest side of reclaimed pond 001 and at two <br />places on the excess spoils pile: on top of the pile approximately 1000 feet east of seep RSP-3, and <br />on the western corner of the pile approximately 250 feet southeast of RSP-3. The permittee's <br />representatives said the thistle patches will be sprayed soon. The Division will follow up after the <br />spraying with an inspection to verify that the thistle is eradicated. <br />Several clumps of daisies, possibly Oxeye daisy, were scattered near the road north of pond HG-8. If <br />these are Oxeye daisy, they should be eradicated when the thistle is sprayed because Oxeye daisy is <br />an invasive plant and has been designated a noxious weed in Colorado. <br />Woody shrubs appear to be coming along well in the three fenced shrub transplant areas around pond <br />003, around pond HG-8, and in the former pit area. These three parcels are excluded from the current <br />Phase II/Phase III bond release application. <br />SLIDES AND DAMAGE <br />Slump in Southeastern Portion of Reclaimed Pit Area <br />The permittee's contractor is busy conducting the work approved in Minor Revision MR-13. A plastic <br />drain pipe was evident in the bottom of a trench excavated near the center of the slump. A trackhoe <br />that was on-site had excavated the trench. The trackhoe work had not disturbed the ground surface <br />beyond the slump area. This slump area is excluded from the current bond release application. <br />No sign of movement was found in the previously reported 1-foot scarp and crack in the soil along the <br />former highwall area near coordinates N375,000; E1,498,000. A similar scarp was examined near <br />coordinates N377,000; E1,498,750. This scarp extends more than 200-feet along the contour of a <br />convex hillslope. Flattened vegetation on the scarp indicates the scarp formed some time before the <br />snowpack melted in the last two months. The scarp was not noticed in inspections prior to the <br />snowpack melting. Approximately 30 feet downhill from the scarp, the ground flattens out into the <br />valley;therefore, if the scarp indicates that downslope ground movement has occurred, then the <br />movement was limited to a panel of ground that is approximately 30 feet, or so, wide by a few hundred <br />feet long. The potential for future movement was discussed. The scarp appears to indicate minor <br />settling along this convex hillslope and does not appear to represent significant ground instability; <br />therefore. it is not a concern. <br />Rills on the west side of the excess spoils pile appear to be stabilized by vegetation. These rills have <br />been noted in a previous inspection report. The excess spoils pile was closely inspected for any signs <br />of ground instability, but none were found. <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS <br />Revegetation appears to be effectively preventing formation of rills and gullies throughout the <br />disturbed areas in the permit area. A high degree of erosional stability was found on all lands within <br />the permit area. Visual inspection of the water at the outfall located on the permit boundary found no <br />sediment in the water. The high degree of erosional stability in the permit area and the absence of <br />sediment in water at the permit boundary support a finding that the permit area is not contributing <br />-6- <br />