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3.5 Prime Farmland Determination <br />• The Colorado State Office of SCS in Denver was contacted for information concerning prime <br />farmland within the study area. In 1982, SCS issued a revised publication entitled "Important <br />Farmland Inventory -Colorado" (SCS, October 1982). This document, as well as a <br />supplementary publication entitled "Important Farmlands ofColorado -State Summary and Map" <br />(SCS and Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station, 1980) were reviewed. <br />3.6 Evaluation of Soils for Reclamation Potential <br />The soils and parent materials on the study area were evaluated for suitability based on criteria <br />presented in Table 2, Criteria for Evaluating Soil Suitability. These suitability criteria were <br />approved by CDMG in the scope-of-work letter. Recommended soil salvage thicknesses were <br />generated for each sampled pedon and each component of a mapping unit. Salvage <br />thicknesses were determined following a detailed evaluation of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), <br />saturation percent, soil texture, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), calcium carbonate percent, and <br />coarse fragment percent. Secondary suitability criteria including depth to bedrock, depth to <br />ground water, soil consistence, organic matter content, and slope steepness were also utilized <br />to determine soil salvage thickness. <br />Soil salvage thicknesses were based on average depths to the suspect parameter or average <br />• profile depths if the entire profile was suitable. These depths were based on numerous soil <br />profile descriptions completed across the entire study area. All unsuitable soil horizons or whole <br />soils were listed and the limitations described. <br />These suitability evaluations, based on averages across the study area, were used for soil <br />volume determinations presented in Tab 21, Minesoil Reconstruction, of this PAP. The <br />recommended soil salvage thicknesses for each map unit are weighted averages of each major <br />component of the map unit (those listed in the map unit name -for both consociations and <br />complexes) as well as major soil inclusions as presented within the map units. <br />• <br />15 <br />