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Erosion is much more likely throughout the Crystal Creek drainage now due to the major <br />changes in soil cover caused by the Hayman Fire. <br />Even with the impact of the Hayman Fire and the increased opportunity for sheet erosion, <br />crystal mining has had a negligible additive effect on increasing the erosion in the Crystal <br />Creek drainage when done correctly. The lazger, open excavations created by machinery, <br />serve to trap runoff. Where sheet erosion can be occurring on both sides and around the <br />excavation itself, water running into the excavation is trapped. As long as loose material <br />from the excavations is not allowed to enter the natural drainages, and digging does not <br />occur within the drainages, then sediments from excavations will rarely enter the runoff. <br />After reclamation, the reclaimed sites remain highly permeable and precipitation is <br />rapidly absorbed. Nevertheless, each excavation on a slope greater than 10% will have a <br />berm cut below it the full length of the excavation and a silt fence erected within the <br />berm. The berm and silt fence will remain in place for at least a year after reclamation. <br />Soil is removed and stockpiled adjacent to each excavation. Whether the soil is absent, <br />or reaches to a depth of 8 inches, on average, 8 inches of material is scraped and stored. <br />A 40 inch bucket with 8 inch teeth rake up the soil. As a result, soil and subsoil are <br />stacked in the same pile. (See reclamation plan). <br />Burned Areas: The Pikes Peak weathered granite and soils are some of the most erosive <br />in Colorado. As a consequence there has been severe erosion in marry post Hayman Fire <br />burn areas. Have arty of the proposed affected areas or areas upslope for the affected <br />areas experienced abnormally post Hayman fire high erosion? This may be important in <br />extent and type of mine operation stormwater controls that are needed and in <br />reclamation efforts. <br />Per the site description in Exhibit B, Sites J, K, L, M, and N are the most severely burned <br />of the 14 sites. <br />Fortunately, these sites are located that impact from erosion above the sites from the <br />Hayman Fire effects has been and will likely continue to be minimal. Site M is most <br />susceptible, however, the area to the west of Site M is the most likely to experience <br />erosion, and not Site M itself. Rocky outcrops exist dvectly above Site M and will limit <br />possible erosion. <br />Site L is directly below Site M and will not experience potential problems for the same <br />reasons as Site M. <br />Sites N and K are relatively protected by rocky outcrops above them. <br />Site J is on a flat bench and not subject to being reached by erosion from the burned areas <br />above it. <br />