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III. COMMENTS -COMPLIANCE <br />Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made <br />during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection <br />and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />This was a complete inspection conducted by Sandy Brown of the Colorado Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (Division). This former, contour strip operation is bond <br />revoked. Ail remaining funds from the bond revocation at this site were spent in 2004 for <br />ditch repairs. Inspection frequency is quarterly, with one complete inspection each year. <br />Ground conditions on this day were dry and the weather was warm. The main focus of the <br />inspection was to conduct vegetation sampling on the reclaimed areas at this forfeited site. <br />Assisting with the revegetation sampling were Dan Mathews, Dan Hernandez and Jim Stark. <br />Prior to collecting the field data for cover and production, Jim Stark prepared a map and <br />entered GPS coordinates for the random sampling locations. In total 30 randomly located <br />sites were sampled. These random locations were selected by weighted acreage for each <br />reclaimed parcel to ensure the entire site was covered. <br />At each sampling location a 50 m transect was oriented toward the next transect location. <br />Cover was collected using a 10-point frame every 5 meters. First hit vegetation species, <br />rock, litter or bare ground was recorded at each point. Production data was gathered by <br />clipping current years herbaceous growth in a 0.5 m2 quadrat. The clipped vegetation was <br />bagged and it will be dried in a low temperature oven before it is weighed. Data was <br />collected the afternoon of June 25 and the morning of June 26. <br />Hydrologic Balance <br />Pond 15-P20 and Pond 15-P8 had a small amount of water in them. <br />Ponds 22-P5 and 22-P6 contained water. <br />Reveaetation <br />The north side of the County Road had more invasive species. Dominant species were: <br />field bindweed, sweetclover, rubber rabbitbrush and snakeweed. Scotch thistle is also in <br />abundance. South of the county road, along the contour strip pits, there was a diverse well <br />established vegetation community. Dominant species were: smooth brome, alfalfa, <br />sweetclover, western wheatgrass, and rubber rabbitbrush. Scotch thistle was also present, <br />but not in the quantities as north of the road. A complete report of the vegetation sampling <br />will be prepared in the near future. <br />Overall, the site appeared in good condition for the summer season and no significant <br />problems were noted. <br />