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~: ~= United States Soil <br />~`~~= Dgpartmentot Conservation - March 17, 1987 <br />r `l <br />A riculture Service <br />Mr. William Tezak <br />Colorado Quarries <br />P.O. Box 1389 <br />Canon City, CO. 81212 <br />Dear Bill, ~x,, <br />The following is in regards to cur telephone conversation of 3/17/87 in which <br />you requested further input into the Lily mine site reclamation plan located east <br />of Nbnarch Pass and Nbrth of U.S. Highway 50 in Chaffee County, Colorado. File number <br />for this particular project i,s M-87-028. <br />In .the matter concerning revegetation of stockpiled topsoil, I feel that the <br />previously recotr¢nended mixture of 4 lbs/ac. smooth brume, 6 lbs/ac. intermediate <br />wheatgrass and 1 lb/ac orchardgrass will suffice. These species are very well adapted <br />to the climate and elevation and their sod-forming qualities should greatly assist in <br />the prevention of soil erosion, either by wind or water, during the operation period <br />of the mine. <br />With respect to thb"planting of shrub species in the final reclamation of the <br />area for the purpose of creating better wildlife habitat I have the following comments: <br />First of all, in the reclamation of a gravel pit that is as small as this one in size, <br />the absence of shrubs such as mountain mahogany and bitterbrush will not noticeably <br />affect the wildlife species normally found in the area. Secondly, shrub species are <br />much more difficult to get established than grass and last of all, shrubs that are <br />naturally occuring in the area will eventually ccfne in on their own; in this case, <br />mountain mahogany will reseed itself once the soils have become more stabilized. I <br />have found little evidence of bitterbrush in the area, but there are fairly concen- <br />trated artounts on the west side of Monarch Pass towards Gunnison. This indicates to <br />tre that it probably wouldn't grow very well at the mine site anyway. <br />If I can be of any furtrier assistance to you i.n this matter please contact my <br />office, 783-2481. <br />Sin~c~erely, <br />Alan R. Forkey <br />SCS District Conservationist <br />Soil Conservation Service <br />The Soa Conservation Service <br />V m en e0ency of the <br />Deuertment of ApnculNre <br />