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• United States <br />Cepartment of <br />Agriculture <br />i <br />Natural <br />Resources <br />Conservation <br />Servige <br />_ _ ~~. <br />January 29, 1996 <br />1607 PFreasant Ridge <br />Sterling, CO 80751 <br />(303) 522-7554 <br />Mr_ Merv Casey, Systems Supervisor <br />E1 Paso County Department of Transportation <br />:i].OS N. Stone Avenue <br />Colorado Springs, CO 80907 <br />Dear Mr. Casey: <br />I have examined the existing gravel pit site adjacent to the <br />Simla Highway in the SE1/4 SE1/4 of Section 10, Range 60 W, <br />Township 11 S. on December 29, 1995. The area is being mined at <br />the present time with an East facing slope just West of the Simla <br />Iiiytiway. The reclamation plan for this site is as follows: <br />~~~yatigr~: The gravel pit site is located west along the Simla <br />I••lighway with open excavations mining approximate 300 feet facing <br />east to the road. TI're area surrounding is upland native rangeland <br />c::lassified as a Sandy Foothills range site. The area is currently <br />being mir'red at this time and there is evidence of past open <br />excavation mining. The site is moderately steep with excising <br />small gully developing on the slope with no vegetation. The site <br />i:~> currently fenced off from grazing. <br />~oi~s: The gravel pit site consists of Truckton-Eiresser complex„ <br />map unit 99, on slopes of 5 to 25 percent. Tlie complex is a deep, <br />well drained with surface and subsurface layers of sandy loam <br />with substratum of coarse sandy loam. <br />Veget~tior~: The potential plant community on this site is 75-85'% <br />clrasses, 10-15% forbs, and 5-10% shrubs. Plants presently <br />growing include little bluestem, pra.irie.sandreed, blue gr'ama, <br />western wheatgrass, sideoats gram, sand sage, red threeawn, <br />woolly plantian and yucca_ Mined area is mainly cheatgrass.. <br />3.~g_2rgp~r~~bgn: Reclamation of the pit should be made by <br />smoothing all banks to no more that 2:1 slopes and should be <br />flatter where feasible and practicable. The topography should be <br />made smooth with no spoil piles or pits present. <br />Topsoi~igg: The current topsoil should be removed and reserved <br />to he used for rer..lamation_ Top:>oi.l should be spread uniformly <br />over the disturbed area to a packed deptl~ of G inches_ Tliis <br />should be increased to 8" - 10" over- exposed bedrock. In the <br />event that existing soils Piave insufficient depth, topsoil shall <br />be brought .in and spread over the deFicient areas. <br />