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iii iiiiiiiiiiiu iii <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Roy Romer, Governor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION <br />FRED R. BANTA, Director <br />DATE: July 7, 1989 <br />T0: Dan Hernandez <br />FROM: John T. Doerfer ~1v <br />RE: Assessment of Soil Loss from the Snyder Quarry Under Three (3) <br />Possible "Forested" Conditions, Amendment No. 2, Snyder Quarry, <br />File No. M-77-210 <br />Following our discussions on the additional information to be prepared prior <br />to the July 26, 1989 hearing on the Snyder Amendment, I have completed my <br />evaluation of the soil loss under selected post-mining land use conditions. <br />This memo provides the results of that assessment. <br />METHODOLOGY <br />The technique chosen for estimating soil loss in this assessment is the <br />Universal Soil Loss Equation (LISLE). This methodology was originally <br />developed for application to croplands (Wischmeier and Smith, 1965). <br />Developments since 1965 have expanded the use of the soil loss equation by <br />providing techniques for estimating site values of its factors for additional <br />land uses, climatic conditions, and management factors (Wischmeier and Smith, <br />1978). The LISLE has been applied successfully to mining situations because <br />reclamation plans are ordinarily directed toward rehabilitating affected lands <br />to a designated land use (EPA, 1977; Barfield, et al., 1981). <br />At the June hearing, the main discussion focused on what is an appropriate <br />reclamation plan for the designated land use at the Snyder Quarry. The <br />applicant has proposed "wildlife habitat". IAany of the ojbectors feel <br />"forested" is more appropriate based on the designated zoning of the area as <br />"Forest". The definition of what comprises a forest is difficult to <br />determine. However, based on your consultations with the Colorado State <br />Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Division of Wildlife, we have <br />developed three (3) conditions which include various proportions of trees, <br />shrubs and grass. These are described below: <br />MLRD Proposal. This plan is for 35 trees per acre, 35 shrubs per <br />acre, ana grasses equal in extent to surrounding cover. The <br />density of trees and shrubs was chosen to provide a combination of <br />wildlife habitat and watershed protection. A value of 60% ground <br />cover by grasses was determined to be appropriate. This cover <br />value was derived as an average value of the range from 50 to 70% <br />as noted on page 57 of the amendment application, Exhibit J, <br />Vegetation Information. <br />215 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203-2273 Tel. (3031 866-3567 <br />