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r, . ,c UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ~ SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE stiurecT: Gravel pit reclamation TO: Mr. Chris Noffsinger Neilson~s Incorporated, Box 684 Dolores, Colorado 81323 unTe: July 23, 1976 Following our conversation about reclaznation of the Animas Aggregates gravel operation near Telluride, I made afield re+riew of the soils to determine the suitability of stockpiling the topsoil. I also prepared a soils map tracing, included for your use, The soils involved near the gra+rel operation include: Sessions loam(51); Tine gravelly loam(13); 47et alluvial lands(802); and Rocklands(900), Our table of interpretations for the soil survey of the Upper San tIiguel River have rated each of these rnappino units as to the suitability of each unit as a source for topsoil, as well as other physical and chemical features. The 51 soil is rated fair as a source of topsoil on slopes up to lsp, The 13 soil is rated as poor due to an excessive areount of large cobble, The 802 and 900 soils are rated as poor and unsuited due to slope or sea- onal flooding, During n4' field evaluation, there appeared that there may be some topsoil north stockpiling in unit 13, but how ~mxch I donut know, Also on the 51 soil, I noticed some shale outcrops which may present some restrictions on stockpiling topsoil, In the 802 soil there is essentially no developed topsoil even though there is some vegetation growing there. You indicated that the current gravel operation would probably not strip any topsoil any further southtaest than the river channel. Howe+rer, the 51 soil appears to be the best source of topsoil, I made vegetati+re in+rentories on each of the mapping units, The follovring list is a tabulation by mapping unit of all the plant species I noticed, Nearly all species mere nati+re to the sites, Timothy, crested wheatgrass and smooth brome are not nati+re species, but would perform well for re- vegetation purposes, I have indicated the species I feel are suitable For revegetation, and for tahich there may be a source of seed, with an asterisk. 0