PERMFILE102095

• Permit No: C1981028
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: APPENDIX L SOILS & VEGETATION
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

~3
• The clay under each plot was diked on the borders so
that water would not run off of the sand-shale interface.
The plots were seedeC to the native grass mix, mulched with
manure and irrigated for establishment.
No differences were apparent among these depth-af-
sand plots during the first growing season using sprinkles
irrigation for establishment. It will probably take
several growing seasons under natural precipitation before
conclusions can be drawn from these plots. In the mean-
while our assumption is that a minimum of three feet of
sand are required over clay to supgort the diversity and
productivity of plant species native to the deep sand site.
It is suggested that spoil material to be covered
with sand be contour ridged, furrowed or pitted in such
a way that moisture penetrates into the spoil rather than
moves off at the sand-spoil interface.
Grazing management of Rehabilitated Areas
Although sand stabilization and prevention of wind
erosion is the most immediate goal of rehabilitation, live-
stock grazing is the primary use for which disturbed areas
will be rehabilitated. The goal for management is sus-
tained high forage production and sand stability with a
vigorous stand of forage species and a minimum amount of
weeds and sand sage. At present, the sand appears to be
stabilized more by annual weeds and sand sage than by
forage species, and it would be unfortunate if rehabili-
tated areas were deteriorated by grazing to an equivalent
weedy condition.
With irrigation and.fertilization in the first year,
thick stands of native grasses can be established and rooted
deeply to stabilize the sand. Thereafter, the plants must
survive without irrigation, which means that competition
among plants will increase and eliminate weak and shallow-
rooted individuals. For example, we expect a reduction in
the density of sand dropseed, which is a pioneering perennial
grass, as deeper-rooted bunchgrasses increase in size and
rhizomatous species increase in density. To attain the goal
of high forage production and sand stability, we need to
maintain a good mixture of short and tall grasses, the
. balance of which is readily influenced by season and
~ intensity of grazing.