HYDRO27271 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Monitoring during succeeding yeazs indicated that the 1999 effort was less successful than had been hoped for. These observations all pointed toward attempting the project for a second time, incorporating the modifications described above. Due to the extremely dry conditions of 2000, sediment sampling of spring runoff from the outslopes did not occur. Runoff from two intense thunder storms in August, 2000 either destroyed the sampling points which were in place, or, in two cases, sufficiently altered the stream channels so that the sampling systems were left out of the active channel. The inability to collect meaningful sediment data indicated that the collection of sediment data from stream systems below the mine bench outslopes, and in the upper reaches of Coal and Dutch Creeks, was not feasible. This is primarily due to the dynamic and intense nature of the flow events which occur in the upper portions of Coal Basin. 2000 Construction and Maintenance In early October 2000, tree seedlings and shrub cuttings were planted in a test plot established neaz the gully monitoring points on the Mine 1 Outslope. The purpose of the test plantings was to determine whether this effort would help minimize near surface soil creep, while promoting mid-slope micro-habitat for future stabilization efforts. Two hundred trees were planted on a three feet by five feet (horizontal by vertical) spacing. The trees, an approximately even distribution of Sub-alpine Fir, Douglas Fir and Engelmann Spruce, were planted in rows offset one and one half feet horizontally from the row above. This pattern maximized the amount of uphill slope intercepted by each seedling. One hundred randomly selected trees were provided with sun shelters, while the other half were planted using only nearby rock as a shelter. Individual willow stakes, cut from mature willows located immediately down slope of the test plot below the mine bench outslope, were planted just below the trees. The willow stakes were driven into the ground approximately twelve to fifteen inches each. The willows were planted in a single line traversing the outslope on approximately five feet centers. Willow wattles were planted at the south east quarter of the test plot below the willow stakes. These wattles consisted of approximately fifteen willow cuttings fifteen to twenty inches in length each tied into bundles using coazse string, The bundles were planted horizontally with minimal soil cover. Public Participation A community volunteer planting effort was attempted in the fall of 2000. However, a low level of interest resulted in this effort being abandoned. Following this, the Division solicited help from three azea schools to assist with tree and shrub planting. In all, about eighty five middle school students and fifteen high school students participated.