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K <br />:' =~ UnileA Stales <br />Depaitmenl of <br />'~~®~j~ AgricuRure <br />July 24, 1985 <br />mil <br />Conservation <br />• III III III III IIII III <br />Service sss <br />Ken Ashwood <br />Gunnison County Road and Bridge Dept. <br />Gunnison County Courthouse <br />200 East Virginia <br />Gunnison ,CO 81230 <br />RE: Taramarcaz gravel pit <br />Dear Ken: <br />Z16 North <br />Gunnison, <br />Colorado <br />CO 81230 <br />In response to your request for soils and revegetation/reclamation infor- <br />mation concerning your gravel pit operation (location: E2NW;, Sect. 2, <br />T. 48N., R.3E.),I am enclosing several observations and recommendations in <br />summarized narrative form. <br /> <br />As depicted on the enclosed soils map of the area in question, the major <br />soil of potential impact is Mergel gravelly loam. General aspect is <br />basically south-southwest, with moderate (less than 10~) slopes. The <br />soil is more fully descirbed in the additional enclosures, which include <br />tables describing potential uses, limitations and hazards (i.e. soil and <br />site suitability for various purposes) and significant engineering pro- <br />perties. As indicated, the soil is probably best suited to livestock graz- <br />ing or included in a larger grazing unit. From a revegetation/reclamation <br />standpoint, the soil would exhibit some limitations, chief of which would <br />be shallow topsoil layer, high mineral and low organic matter content in the <br />soil, moderate-rapid permeability, gravelly-to-stony surface, relatively <br />short growing season for seeding establishment, and dry open-slope exposure. <br />For purposes of excavation, the soil, subsoil and parent material are relative- <br />ly stable, and drainage of the area either during operation or after reclamation <br />presents no apparent problem. Other than excavation activities, livestock <br />grazing is the only other beneficial use of the area at present. <br />Other considerations of general concern regarding reclamation of the site <br />include: <br />1) All topsoil present should be saved and stockpiled by soil layer <br />or horizon in an easily accessible area, where practical. How- <br />ever, natural topsoil depth in the area may already be minimal, <br />especially on slopes. Additional topsoil may need to be obtained <br />to supplement native topsoil removed and stockpiled. If the stock- <br />piled topsoil is to be stored for an extended period (longer than <br />one year), it should be reseeded as per the seeding recommendation <br />O Tne Soil Conserval~on Service <br />U ~s an aBencY of Ine <br />D eparlmenl of Aprs ullure <br />