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Cover crops and mulch are used very effectively in drainageways to reduce the detachment of soil by rainfall <br />and runoff while providing seasonal protection and soil improvement. Cover crops provide protection from <br />wind and water erosion during vegetation establishment periods when permanent vegetation is inadequate <br />to provide adequate cover. <br />Permanent vegetative (grasses, forbs and shrubs) cover provides the most significant and permanent long <br />term solution to erosion control problems. The selection of species adapted to the climate and soils is one <br />of the most important steps in achieving success. Woody plants are often desirable for the long term <br />stability of a particular site. However, woody plants require time to develop sufficient size to control erosion <br />adequately and the quick cover that can be obtained with grasses and forbs is needed in the interim. The <br />principles for selection of herbaceous vegetation is based on a particular species adaptation to the site and <br />its erosion control potential. The ideal species should have strong root development. A diverse mixture of <br />plant species increases the assurance of a stand as i[ is difficult to anticipate all of the variables that will <br />affect germination and stand establishment on any given site. Also, a monoculture is always more <br />susceptible to disease or losses from abnormal weather condition. Thus, a mix of perennial grasses and <br />forbs is used. <br />Willow wattles and woody seedling transplants are installed in drainageways and serve as energy dissipaters <br />for water and soil moving down the drainageway and provide long term stability. Woody plants filter and trap <br />entrained debris (soil, small rocks, veg litter) and provide a series of areas with reduced slope angles on <br />which vegetation can be established. Deep rooted woody vegetation prevents gully formation and will <br />become part of the permanent stabilizing cover. <br />Brush matting (crimping) is essentially a mulch of hardwood brush crimped into existing drainage cuts. The <br />technique is employed very effectively in stream channels and on stream banks to protect against <br />accelerated erosion rates when a channel needs repair. <br />• Geotextiles, erosion blankets and other erosion control fabrics, are used effectively in reducing stream <br />velocities and increasing sedimentation in drainageways. A variety of materials were used at Trapper Mine <br />and include geoweb - a soil confinement system, C125 coconut blanket, and landglas erosion control fibers <br />(landglas is tacked with CSS-1 emuls'rfied asphalt). <br />3.3 Flow <br />Discharge readings for Coyote drainage were recorded from a 10-year, 24-hour parshall Flume located in the <br />north end of the reconstructed drainageway. The peak (low for Coyote drainage in 1988 was 727 gpm (1.62 <br />cfs) and occurred during the spring runoff period (3-27-88) (see attached Table 1). The peak Flow in 1987 <br />(22.24 cfs) occurred as a result of a high intensity thunderstorm on June 7 (.74" ppt) and caused severe <br />damage to a 2500' erosion control test plot located within the drainage. In 1988, a thunderstorm of similar <br />intensity (.53' ppt) occurred on June 29th and resulted in a peak flow of only .02 cfs. <br />The large variation in Flow rates between years can be attributed to less than normal winter and spring <br />moisture (February-April 1988) and the construction of several (30) livestock ponds in the drainage basin in <br />the late summer of 1987. Livestock ponds were constructed within the drainage bottom and on adjacent <br />water harvesting diversion ditches which feed the main drainage. In 1988, additional livestock ponds (9) <br />were constructed to further improve wildlife/livestock watering opportunities and decrease drainage flow <br />rates. <br />3.4 Improvements and Repairs <br />• Drainageway improvements and repairs were pedormed to provide benefits to all drainages treated in 1987- <br />88, as well as portions of undisturbed drainage segments. Drainage improvements included the Installation <br />of several thousand shrub seedlings in 1987 treatment areas, the rock armoring of hay bale structures in <br />