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• those years when viable seed is set it does not interfere with the establishment of the permanent reclamation seed mixtures. In fact, a cover crop's ability to set viable seed and germinate for several years after the permanent mixture has been planted is generally beneficial to the short- term stability of the soil in an area and appears to aid in the establishment of the species contained in the permanent seed mixture. in areas where viable seed has been set as a result of past cover cropping, the permanent seed mixture normally out competes it within three to five years of initial seeding. Surface roughness is an important, short-term feature established during the reclamation process. Surface roughness may be created by the placement of contour furrows or through land imprinting. Surface roughness is important because it creates microhabitats that aid in plant establishment; harvests precipitation on site which in turn stimulates plant growth, speeds soil genesis, and retards runoff and associated erosion forces; and reduces the capacity requirements for or extends the functional life of water treatment facilities. When contour furrows are chosen to create surface roughness a duck-foot plow, or other appropriate implement, will be used in the discing process. Contour furrows are approximately six inches deep and four feet apart. The timing of contour • furrow placement in the revegetation operation sequence is discussed in 9.9.3. When land imprinting is chosen to create surface roughness it will be accomplished using a land imprinter, cultipacker or other suitable implement. The dimensional characteristics of the roughness created will be determined by the type of equipment used. A typical imprinted depression is diamond shaped, approximately six inches deep and six to twelve inches on a side. The timing of land imprinting in the revegetation operation sequence is discussed in 9.9.3. In addition to the hydrologic benefits mentioned under contour furrowing, land imprinting is also beneficial because it firms the seedbed and further improves soil-to-seed contact. Once seedbed preparation has been completed, the revegetation seed mixture is planted on those soils where it is required (see 9.4.3) . The revegetation seed mixture will be planted at the appropriate time during seedbed preparation depending upon the type of seeding method to be used. A Steiger 9-wheel drive tractor or other suitable equipment is used to pull seedbed preparation and planting implements. • Renewal-3 9.3-16 June 13, 1997