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• (Page 2) • <br />MZNE ID f OR PROSPECTING ID f M-79-142 <br />INSPECTION DATE 08-09-95 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS CLK <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />This 34-acre pit ie divided into three eectione (9.8 acres, 14.5 acres, and 8.6 acres) each <br />on a separate dry mesa. The first was mined in 1979, the second in 1986, and the last <br />section was added in 1990. No incipient drainage or grading problems exist at any of the <br />eectione. The 1986 and 1990 (14.5 and 8.6 acres) eectione are still actively operated, with <br />no topsoil saved at either portion. The surrounding voile are thin and rocky. <br />The 1979 section has been re-graded down to 3H:1V at the edges, and is completely flat in the <br />center of this Bite. Revegetation was begun last year, with between 25-30t coverage present <br />(6" high vegetation). The rows of dieted seeding are still visible, and wheatgrase makes up <br />about 90B of the vegetation, with Indian ricegraee and sage making up the other 101. Signs <br />of extensive cattle and antelope grazing were visible over the entire section, which may be <br />partially responsible for the lack of success with this reseeding attempt. DMG recommends <br />that the seed mix be modified to include more variation and lees wheatgrase (currently 45t <br />of the mix) and that this entire section be fenced off to give the plants a chance to get a <br />foothold before the local fauna graze them down to the soil. <br />Topsoil stockpiles are present at the edge of the 1979 section; however, there is clearly not <br />enough topsoil to reclaim the 24 acres still to be regraded and topeoiled. The topsoil <br />covering the 1979 section is a little too fine, and DMG recommends that sand be mixed with <br />the next topsoil mix (about 20B of the mix) to both stretch the soil reserves and to give the <br />topsoil a heavier weight and a better chance of not eroding away. But more topsoil will <br />obviously have to be brought to this site to complete reclamation. <br />if a private operator held the permit on this site, DMG would be forced to cite these <br />concerns as enforcement actions, and to raise the reclamation bond on this site. However, <br />since CDOT is committed to adequate reclamation of this Bite, we will simply recommend the <br />above measures to allow the agency to fulfill the conditions of their permit. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME John Ackerman <br />OPERATOR CDOT <br />STREET 222 So. 6th St.. Room 317 <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP Grand Junction/CO/81501-2769 <br />cc: Carl B. Hount, DMG <br />^ CE <br />^ BL <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD (CH) <br />^ SE <br />^ WQCD (CH) <br />^ Larry Matlock, CDOT <br />Maintenance Supervisor <br />260 Ranney St. <br />Craig, CO 81625 <br />