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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 />Irrigation had recently been initiated within the woody planting sites where drip irrigation systems have been <br />installed. Hayden town water is being used for the irrigation water source, due to salinity concerns posed by <br />using sediment pond water used in the past. <br />The fenced upland shrub planting area in the upper "D' Pit area was closely checked during this inspection. <br />There is very good establishment of big sagebrush and silver sagebrush in the plot, and these plants appeared <br />to be relatively healthy and robust. There are some surviving transplants of woods rose, currant, and <br />serviceberry. These transplants for the most part appeared to exhibit low vigor, and survival may he doubtful, <br />particularly for the serviceberry that were observed. Relatively dense growth of perennial grasses is becoming <br />established in this planting site, and annual fortis are still prevalent. The dry conditions and level of herbaceous <br />competition do not bode well for survival of the shrub transplants. <br />Due to the very dry early growing season, revegetated areas appear yellowish brown from a distance. The <br />brown, dried out appearance is enhanced by the relatively heavy growth of winter annual mustard over large <br />areas, and cheatgrass in some locations. These species produced heavy growth due to wet conditions last fall, <br />and have now matured, seeded, died and dried up. <br />Fence repairs are still warranted along the lower (east side) fence on the larger Ridgeline fenced <br />planting area (north of the channel). Snow accumulation along the fence in this area has pushed the <br />wire off of the posts. There is heavy accumulation of tumbleweed along this section of fence as well, <br />that will need to be removed (if the weeds are burned, operator will need to wait until conditions are <br />such that burning can be safely accomplished, and will need to ensure that prudent precautions are <br />taken). Necessary fence repairs on the smaller Ridgeline planting area had been completed prior to the <br />inspection. <br />Rocky Mountain Research Station researchers were on site at the aspen study plot during the inspection, and <br />initiated root excavation/measurements and whole tree removal for biomass determination. Such sampling is to <br />be performed on three trees within each treatment. The transplanted saplings in the weeded, rotoclear soil <br />treatments have made very impressive growth during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons. <br />Slides and Damage <br />The Ridgeline Slide area repaired last year was checked and there has been no additional sliding in the areas <br />where sliding occurred in 2006 or previous years. The temporary half-pipe installed along the drainage where <br />the slide occurred had twisted and flipped on its side along the lower end, and there was some erosional scour <br />along the half pipe as a result. Installation of the permanent channel with turf reinforcement mat as <br />approved in TR-55 is to be implemented this field season. Riprap energy dissipater at the toe was <br />partially washed out and will need to be repaired. <br />A new slide occurred further to the south along the ridgeline this spring, resulting in damage to areas that had <br />not been approved for disturbance. NOV CV-2007-002 was issued as a result; refer to "NOV CV-2007-002 <br />Abatement, Modification, and Extension" at the beginning of this section. Based on documentation provided and <br />observations made of abatement work performed, the NOV was terminated on 8/1/07. <br />A number of areas of minor settling cracks and minor slips were observed on recently graded (non-topsoiled) <br />spoils in upper portions of the 016 watershed, and these locations will require remedial grading prior to <br />topsoiling. <br />A more significant landslide also occurred this spring, on newly reclaimed (topsoiled) ground in the lower 016 <br />watershed, lower South Leg Wadge area. The slide impacted a small portion of the new aspen planting area in <br />8 <br />