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s .~ _~ , UNITED STATES DEPARTPfENT OF AGRICULTURE Soil Conservation Service Colorado Technical Guide Section ZV All Field Offices July 1981 STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS CRITICAL AREA PLANTIFG (ac.) (342) Standard ,,.,E~anning.considera t ions Definition Planting vegetation, such as trees, shrubs, vines, grasses or fortis, on highly erodible or critically eroding areas (does not include tree planting mainly for wood products). Yuzpose To stabilize the soil, reduce damage from sediment and runoff to downstream areas, and improve wildlife habitat and visual resources. Conditions where practice applies On highly erodible or critically ero- dible or critically eroding areas. These areas usually cannot be stabil- ized by ordinary conservation treat- ment and management and, if left untreated, can cause severe erosion or sediment damage, Examples of applicable areas are dams, dikes, mine spoil, levees, roadsides, cuts, fills, surface-mined areas, and de- nuded or gullied areas where vegeta- tion is difficult to establish by usual planting methods. Critical area planting should be applied only on sites that have the capability of supporting vegetation. Some critical areas are so hostile co plant growth, because of climate, soils or slope, that stabilization can be achieved only through struc- tural measures. Other conservation practices, includir but not limited to diversions, land smoothing, obstruction removal, surf ac and subsurface drzins, and undergroun~ outlets, may be necessary- to prepare critical area for plzrain~. Site pre- paration accomplished through the appl cation of the above practices should rasult in a site meeting the followin@ stand2rds. 1. Land slopes should not exceed 50 percent (2:1).and should be flatte where feasible and practicable. 2. Soils or soil materizls must have sufficient depth and potential fertility to support the type of vegetation to be established. 3. Piz[erials such as rocks and trash that will interfere with planting must be removed. 4. Runoff water from the site oz adj. cent areas must be controlled in . manner that will pr e-. en[ serious erosion and damage to the plantin. ec€icat3orL~ Topsoiling Zn the event that the soils hzve insu cient depth or hzve physical charac[e istics unsuitable for development of vegetative cover, topsoil or soil mat having the capability of supporting t planned vegetative planting shall be brought in and spread over the defici areas. The material must be applied uniformly in sufficient depth to supp the type and quality of vegetative co planned for the site. Source of mate must be approved by the responsible rorhni r.ian.