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DESCPIPTION ~ SUCCESSES: Much of the ~lity and capability of <br />the reclamation environment is revealed in the outstanding successes of what <br />revegetation has been done. In most instances, revegetation vas done vlthout <br />the benefit of topsoil, fertilizer, irrigation, or mulch. Yet annual <br />production zates on many areas range from 1500 to well over 3000 pounds per <br />acre of primarily grass. In some places the grass achieves heights in excess <br />of 9 feet, but in most places it is from 2 to 3 feet high. Deer frequently <br />graze the revegetation areas. <br />Some notable successes are the successful revegetation of the 1.5:1 access <br />roadside slope which reaches heights of nearly 100 feet and exhibits little <br />erosion. No soil was used, no mulch, no irrigation, and only minimal <br />fertilizer; The area was left in a very rough condition after construction and <br />it was seeded with a mixture of gramas, wheatgrasses, sweetclover, alfalfa, and <br />four pounds per acre of winter wheat as a cover crop. After about five years, <br />native wildflowers and shrubs have heavily invaded the slope and are growing <br />strongly. <br />A large disposal area where subsoil and parent material (consisting of <br />granite gravels and sedimentary clays) was seeded with a mixture of <br />wheatgrasses, sweetclover, and alfalfa. No fertilizer was added, no mulch, no <br />irrigation, no cover crop. In the second season production was measured at <br />about 3500 pounds per acre. The most notable feature Ss that by not using <br />topsoils, weeds have never been a problem and yet production has equaled or <br />exceeded similar vegetation on soil, but without the weeds. <br />DESCRIPTION Q~ RF'~ ACTION PROBLEMS: Unfortunately, not every revegetation <br />project here is so outstandingly successful. Because of steep slopes and <br />various water problems we have had some spectacular slumps which will require <br />extensive regrading and rehabilitation. But luckily, most of these areas are <br />small and can be repaired in short order, but in the process we have learned an <br />important lesson. When attempting to rehabilitate a steep slope, it is <br />imperative that surface and subsurface water conditions be corrected <br />beforehand. If they are not, the problem will simply become more severe. <br />19 <br />