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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 <br />inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. <br />Maintenance grading and seeding of the scoured diversion segment south and west of the sediment pond <br />and soil stockpiles, as described in the November and December inspection reports has not yet been <br />completed. Ground conditions have recently dried sufficiently, and the work needs to be completed this <br />spring. Refer to ditch designs in Figure 2.2-3 (plan view) and Table 4.2-13 (dimensions for "Collector <br />Ditch". <br />The temporary diversion segment of McClave Creek (which had been diverted during initial road <br />construction pre-SMCRA, apparently prior to mine site construction) was walked, and photos were taken <br />at regular intervals along the channel. As a result of Division concerns raised during the t996 mid-term <br />permit review, the channel was surveyed, and the operator amended the permit to include commitments <br />to monitor the channel for evidence of erosion, and to implement corrective measures if monitoring <br />indicates unacceptable erosion. Four wooden gabions were installed along the channel in 1997, to limit <br />fu"rher erosion and aid in future monitoring. At the time the gabions were installed; the channel was <br />incised and deeply entrenched along its lower reaches. Recent• survey data provided within the 2004 <br />Annual Hydrology Report (AHR) indicate additional evident downcutting along certain sections of the <br />channel, and the report indicated that only three of the four gabions could be-located. The Division will <br />review the available documentation for the channel diversion segment as a component of the AHR <br />review, and we will forward our comments following completion of the review. Photo points used durinc <br />this inspection are listed below. Distances are very approximate, based on "pacing"; along the narrow <br />brush choked channel. At some locations it was necessary to crawl under the overhanging brush, and at <br />other locations it was necessary to climb out of the channel to get around dense brush or large boulders. <br />#1708 Downstream view. 5' stick at upper end of segment "0". <br />#1709 Upstream view. 5' stick at "0". <br />#1.710 Stick at "100"';-view downstream. - - <br />#1711 Stick at "100"'; view upstream. <br />#17.12 and #1714 Stick at "200"'; view downstream. <br />#1713 Stick at "200"';view upstream. <br />#1715 Bank scour toward road at "230"', near 15mph speed limit sign; view downstream. <br />#1716 View upstream at 1s` wood gabion ("260"'). <br />#1717:•View upstream-with stick in stable section above boulders at !'300"S: -Scoured "plunge pool" 6' <br />deep, below large boulders. - <br />#1718 Scoured pool below boulders at "320"'. <br />#1719 View upstream at "400"' <br />#1720 Second gabion at "450"; view upstream. <br />#1721 3rtl gabion at "560"; view upstream. <br />#1722 Large boulders with plunge pool below, at "600". Below boulders, channel 8 to 10 feet deep by <br />8' wide, with vertical side slopes. View is upstream toward boulders. <br />#1723 is view downstream from base of boulders into a narrow "chasm" section of the channel, 10 to <br />12 feet deep. <br />#1724 view is upstream from East Salt Creek confluence; stake at "660". <br />#1725 is an upstream view, and #1726 and #1727 are downstream views through the deeply incised <br />lower segment of the channel. The 4`" wooden gabion had been installed in this section, but apparently <br />has been washed out. Based on the existence of a narrow terrace bench that was the channel bottom at <br />one time, there appears to have been channel scour up to 2 feet deep since the channel was originally <br />surveyed, and probably within the few years. There are seedling sagebrush plants on the bench. <br />4 <br />