PERMFILE65375 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• table and the hazard of flooding. This map unit is in capability subclass IVc. VEGETATION. The vegetation over the vast majority of the proposed mine area can be described as consisting of a Mountain Big Sagebrush Plant Community Type. This vegetation type is dominated by Mountain Big Sagebrush with Woods Rose, Douglas Rabbitbrush and Saskatoon Serviceberry as common subdominant shrubs. Common fortis include, Western Yarrow, Northwest Cinquefoil, Western Coneflower, Lupine and Oyster Plant. The most common grasses consist of Western Wheatgrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Timothy, Orchardgrass and Fringed Bromegrass. In the lower areas, corresponding to old drainage depressions, there are various wetland plants which are commonly found. These consist primarily of Spreading Bentgrass and Sedges, Willows and Cowparsnip. The extent of all wetlands on the site has been identified in connection with the US Army Corps of Engineers 404 Permit Application which has been submitted and subsequently withdrawn at the request of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.. The average annual forage production typically ranges from between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds of air dry forage per acre. There are relatively few weeds found on this site, indicative of good historic grazing practices being utilized. The overall ecological condition of the vegetation appears.to correspond to the high "fair" to "good" ecological condition classes. • RECLAMATION PLAN As required by local and state mining regulations, before mining commences, the uppermost 12 to 18 inches of topsoil should be stripped, and stockpiled as needed for final reclamation. As much as operationally possible all of the topsoil which is removed from future mining disturbance areas, should be directly applied to regraded slopes generated from previous mining operations. Directly applied topsoil should be regraded as soon as it is reapplied to prevent damage to the volunteer vegetation contained in this topsoil. Topsoils which are placed in stockpiles which will remain in place for more than one growing season should be seeded with a mixture of 50 percent Smooth Bromegrass and 50 percent Pubescent Wheatgrass, at a rate of 30 pounds PLS per acre. Reapplication of salvaged topsoils onto the regraded slopes should be done as soon as operationally possible once grading has been completed. Due to the relatively high nutrient content of these alluvial soils it should not be necessary to apply supplemental fertilizers. However, in the event that poorer quality topsoils or subsoil materials are used for revegetation, then these areas should be fertilized with a minimum of 40 pounds of available nitrogen and 10 pounds of available phosphorous fertilizer per acre. As soon as practicable following application of the fertilizer it should be disced into the reapplied topsoil. SEEDING AND MULCHING All upland areas above the anticipated high water level of the pond shoreline should be reseeded to with the following seed mixture. • 78