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.~ ~ =NV~TOF?Y 8~ EVALU~=ON Requested By: Cola. Dept. of Trans porttation Date: April 7, 1998 by: John Ackerman Rssisted By: Alvin L. Jones Location: Sec. 25, T3S; Resource Conservationist R102W, 6th PM SITL~RTION: You requested additional information fior repermiting an existing gravel pit along Colorado Highway 139, approximately 25 miles south of R.~ngely. You also requested recommendations for reclamation of the site once the mining is completed. INFDPhlRTION FRr7VIDE~: The permitted site is presently being actively mined for gravel and is in a disturbed condition. Following is a review of the mapped soils, expected vegetation and reclamation recommendations for this site. 1) SOILS - Two soil units have been mapped on this site. However, with the previous disturbance, the two soil types have already been altered. The first soil mapping unit is a Moyerson stoney clay loam (53), with 15-65 percent slopes. This soil is a shallow, well drained material formed in residuum from calcareous shale on ridges and side slopes. The surface layer is normally a stoney clay loam about 2 inches thick. The underlying layer is a clay loam about 15 inche:> thick, over fractured shale. Surface runoff potential is rapid and the resulting erosion hazard is very high. The second soil mapping unit is a Tisworth fine sandy loam (89), with 0-S percent slopes. This is a deep, well drained soil formed in sedimentary alluvium having high content of gypsum and alkaline salts on valley floors and broad fans. The surface layer is a fine sandy loam, loam or clay loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is a clay loam about 7 inches thick. The upper 9 inches of the substratum is a loam, while the lower portion is a fine sandy loam that has fine crystals and seams of gypsum and calcium carbonate to a depth of 60 inches or more- The potential erosion hazard for this soil is moderate, with rapid runoff. Inclusion of of;her soil types may occur within the described area- Both of these' soils have limited topsoil material, particularly after t:he previous disturbance. Efforts should be made to save all available topsoil to be used in reclaiming the site upon closure- 2) VEGETATION - Following is a description of the plant communities normally expected to be found on this site- On soil mapping unit 53, the normal vegetation on an undisturbed site would include Salina wildrye, Indian ricegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, western wheatgrass, galleta, shadescale, and horsebrush_ Pinion and juniper have normally invaded these sites. Vegetation is sparse. On the flatter area along the valley floor, the expected vegetation could include greasewood, big sagebrush, Nevada bluegrass, western wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, and shadescale, with numerous annuals present.