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<br />EVALUATION OF RECLAMATION SUCCESS FOR <br />' PHASE II BOND RELEASE <br />' The requirements for Phase II bond release are successful establishment of a diverse and <br />permanent vegetative cover as described in the reclamation plan, replacement of topsoil according <br />to the approved topsoil replacement plan, restoration of alluvial valley floor (AVF) functions, and <br />' control of erosion from the reclaimed are (CDMG 1986). Achievement of the requisites was <br />documented by surveying the established vegetation cover and species composition, replacing the <br />topsoil to the pre-mining depth over the reclaimed area, monitoring to assure that hydrologic <br />' functions of the AVF have been restored, and demonstrating that the reclaimed area is not <br />contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area in excess of pre- <br />' mining levels. Each condition and its supporting documentation are discussed in the following <br />sections. <br />' LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Since the various stages of reclamation work was completed. Kaiser has allowed [he reclaimed <br />' vegetative community to develop and mature. Due to [he steep reclaimed slopes, Kaiser has <br />actively repaired rills and gullies as they form. This repair as well as establishment of raptor <br />perches to control rodents which increase erosion potential has been Kaiser's management <br />' program. <br />' Management activities conducted at the site include the following. Rill and gully repair on contour <br />furrows due to gopher burrowing has been an annual activity. In years when significant <br />precipitation events have occurred, repair activities have been increased. These activities have <br />' been presented in the annual reclamation reports which contain the mapped locations and <br />augmentative work performed. Maintenance of the contour furrows is also conducted on an <br />annual basis as needed. In 1986, the CDMG approved a Technical Revision to reconstruct the <br />' contour furrows in the East Pit area, which was subsequently completed in 1987. <br />The mine site has had some minor infestations of knapweed and thistle which the County has been <br />' treating on an annual basis for the past several years. The thistle has been scattered over the entire <br />site while the knapweed has been concentrated in the Barrow Ridge area. The noxious weed <br />control program will be expanded to include field bindweed and any other species that CDMG <br />' designates as a noxious weed. The next implemented spraying will be conducted in 1997 and will <br />be timed to achieve optimum results. <br />' In 1995, the CDMG approved the use of soil material removed from Pond 5 to be placed on a one <br />acre area near the Stollsteimer Creek crossing. This area was seeded and mulched following <br />placement of the soil material. <br />Sprinkler irrigation and hay harvest activities have occurred on the AVF since final reclamation <br />' in 1991. Better management of this system should achieve higher production of desirable species <br />and less presence of weedy species. <br />' RYAN OS)\Ma¢M1 10. 199] 5 <br />