GENERAL55781 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-48- Oue to the low organic matter and fertility status of the Paonia Reservoir sediments, there may be little advantage in importation of the material. It may be feasible to establish acceptable vegetation on the native subsoils existing at the site. This approach would be preferable on the steep slopes of the reclaimed Western portal, where distribution and stabilization of imported topsoil material would be difficult. As part of the abatement for Notice of Violation No. 81-45, W.S.C. is establishing experimental test plots for a small disturbance to be reclaimed between the West mine loading bin and the coal stockpile area. Vegetation establishment on plots topsoiled with 10" of on-site stockpiled topsoil will be compared with plots topsoiled with 10" of material imported from the borrow area of Paonia Reservoir. Staoilization seeding of exposed subsoils on road cuts, pond embankments and the West portal face-up area is presently beiny undertaken. The results of these stabilization seedings and test plot comparisons will be valuable in assessing the possible benefits of importing topsoil material from Paonia Reservoir for use in final reclamation. The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. XI I. Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e) and 4.15 Vegetation information can be found on pages 2.04-41 through 2.04-50 and in Appendices XVI and XVII of the application. The re vegetation plan is discussed on pages 2.05-50 through 2.05-55, 4.15-1 through 4.16-1, and in Appendix XXVIII. The major vegetation type affected by surface disturbances at Hawk's Nest is an oakbrush community which is prevalent along the river bottom and extends up the top slopes of the canyon to the north of the river. The steeper south facing slopes above are dominated by apinyon-juniper community which has not been impacted by mining. A narrow riparian community is present in some locations immediately adjacent to the North fork. The oakbrush community is dominated by yambel oak (Quercus amg belii). Uther shrubs include Oregon grape (Berberis repens woods rose Rosa woodsii), snowberry (Symphoricarpos sPP• and chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). As a result of the cobbly soils, relatively dense woody growth and southern exposures, the herbaceous understory in the oak community in the vicinity of the surface disturbed area is sparse. Riparian vegetation within the narrow zone along the river is characterized by shrubs such as alder (Alnus alnifolia), hawthorn (Craetagus s ), redosier dogwood (Cornus stolon~), and willow (salix spp.~Riparian vegetation has been disturbed in some locations.