2003-01-27_REVISION - M1999004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RECLAMATION PLAN wetland vegetation it supports. The water supplying this spring does not come from the quarry area but from the entire mountain top and primarily land below the quartzite cap. Precipitation falling on the mountain top seeps into the mountain and works its way into lower formations and eventually outlets in this and other small, intermittently productive springs. It is not expected that this quarry operation will affect any of the springs located well below and away from the mesa top. The removal of the quartzite may actually increase the output from the spring very slightly. However, it now appears that the spring may actually receive much of its water from seepage into the ground in the large amphitheater that forms the land south of the mountain top where the quartzite exists. Much of this amphitheater is occupied by huge expanses of quartzite boulders that not only cover the surface, but also go far into the underlying soil and over large areas essentially prevent much vegetation growth. The coarse texture of the amphitheater soils allows for rapid infiltration. Previously, this was not considered to be a major supply location, but after examination of the cuts into this material along old roads and early to mid 20`h century mining, the underlying soils were found to be as much as 30 to 40 feet deep and filled with many pieces of quartzite of a wide variety of sizes. The texture of this soil is usually a sandy, gravelly material with only limited clay presence and therefore would have a rather high infiltration rate. The large amount of quartzite present in the soil is a result of the crest of Table Mountain eroding northward in an amphitheater form. As the face of the mesa decays the hard, weather resistant quartzite blocks are left on the surface, some of which eventually work their way down into the soil creating a high porosity. Wlldhfe ResOUrces (no modifications) Although the mining process will clearly reduce the amount of useful wildlife habitat on the mountain top, much of that habitat is currently of low value. This is due to the limited amount of forage present in the Pinyon-Juniper woodland vegetation. The greatest amount of wildlife forage on the top of Table Mountain is present in the grassland areas occupied by the Nunn clay loam soils that greatly restrict tree and shrub growth. The revegetation plan is intended to emphasize the establishment of grasses in preference to trees. Thus the revegetation will increase forage values over what is presently found on the site. However, as evidenced by old mining disturbances, the invasion of trees and shrubs is rather rapid. Because the soils to be replaced will be considerably more coarse than the Nunn clay loam, which is uncommon on the mountain top, the replaced soil itself will encourage a return to forest. That will, in time, reduce the wildlife habitat value of the reclamation area, but it will take decades before that occurs. In the meantime, wildlife will enjoy a grassy mountain top with excellent forage values, but with the retention of good cover in surrounding areas. TOpSOlhllg (significant modifications) Topsoiling will be done on all mined areas. No topsoiling will occur on the access road east of the mesa edge as that road will remain after the mining. No topsoiling will occur on the primary stockpile and loadout area located below and east of the mesa edge. That land will probably be used in the future for camping sites and other recreation as was the case prior to the existing permit. In part, this limitation on topsoil distribution is a result of limited availability of soils because of soil losses that occurred as a result of previous operators not saving the soils from those areas. Due to Table Mountain Quarry -Castle Concrete Company Exhibit E (Amendment 1) Page 4