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~ ~ Page April 6, 1998 3) RECLAMATION RECOMMENDATIONS - The fallowing reclamation recommendations should be considered at the time the gravel pit is closed, to insure=_ a more successful revegetation of the site: Three areas will lend themselves to being reclaimed and revegetated: the load out/processing area, the benches in between the exposed rock le~~ges and top of the pit cut area- The site should be contoured and smoothed to slopes no steeper than 2:1, where practical and preferably flatter in the pit base area. The flatter the slope, the better the opportunity for revegetating the disturbed area. Areas which were compacted during mining should be ripped. Provisions should be implemented to control runoff water from the slopes above the pit site, in order to manage erosion on the reclaimed area. Topsoil which was stockpiled should be spread evenly over the site to a minimum depth of 6 inches. The site should then be tilled and firmed to prepare a suitable seedbed. Seeding of the site should be done in the late fall (October 15th or later) prior to the soil freezing. The seed should be drilled with a grassy drill having double disk openers and packer wheels. Drilling should be performed as much as possible on the contour- The planting depth should be approximately 1/2 inch. If the seed is broadcast instead of drilled, then the following recommended rate must be doubled. If broadcast, the area should be harrowed or dragged after the seed is spread to incorporate the seed into the soil. Mulching the site is recommended with clean, weed free straw. However, unless the mulch is properly crimped into the soil with a disc or mulch crimper, mulching would be a waste of tune and expense, as the wind will likely remove the mulch. The following c3rass species are recommended to be used to reseed the site. Pinion, Juniper, and native shrubs are expected to invade the site i.n a relatively short time after pit closure. The following mixture is in pounds of pure live seed (PLS) per acre: Specie Variety Pounds PLS/Acre Western Wheatgrass Arriba 3.2 Thickspike Wheatgrass Critana 2.2 Streambank Wheatgrass Siberian 2.2 Indian ricegra_;s - 1.3 Russian Wildrye~ Vinal 3.0 Crested Wheatgrass Ephraim 1.5 TOTAL Pounds PLSJAcre 13.4 Proper and adequate weed control measures will be necessary the first year, to insure the establishment of a sufficient stand of grass and prevent. the invasion of weeds, especially noxious weeds. If weed competition is reduced the opportunity for grass establishment is increased significantly. Appropriate herbicides should be applied the first growing season during the early spring and summer to control weeds if present. The herbicide label should be followed. The site should have all livestock excluded for a minimum of at least one to two full growing seasons after planting.