PERMFILE102647 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

:~ `' • ' ~~- United Slates Soil ~~~ Department of Conservation Agriculture Service July 18, 1984 Mr. Harold Lewis, Administrator Chaffee County P. O. Box 699 Salida, CO 81201 Harold: 230 lJest 16th Street Salida, CO 81201 Enclosed is information on reclamation planning for the sand and gravel pit jointly operated by Chaffee County and the City of Salida south of Salida. An estimated 7-8 acres has been distrubed by previous mining activity: Reclamation of much of this disturbed area could begin as soon as your reclamation plan and permits have been approved. The enclosed soils and vegetative information both indicate that this is a very harsh site and that revegetation will be very difficult. There is very little soil development on the surface, therefore, "topsoil!! salvage is unnecessary and impractical. Mining operations may encounter buried layers of finer textured material that could be saved and used for an improved growth medium on the surface. Past mining activities have left some slopes rather steep, up to 30q in some areas. Further mining should avoid leaving areas this steep if possible. This could be corrected by piling waste rock from screening operations at the toe of these slopes and pulling the up-slope material over the top of the rock. Contour trenches or dikes should be planned to minimize runoff and conserve moisture on the steeper slopes as well. Two possible approaches, or a combination of the two, could be used to re- vegetate this difficult site. Sewage sludge from the Salida ldaste Treatment Plant could be used to "create" soil. This generally requires heavy applications of sludge mixed with wood chips or saw dust. The wood organic matter helps to "tie up" the high amounts of nitrogen in the sludge and slowly releases it for plant growth. Further research and close coordination with the Colorado Health Department would be needed before this approach is attempted. The coarse textured soil material and slopes may prevent safe use on this site. The enclosed seeding mixture could then be used. bulching is recommended on :. slopes greater than 15 percent. The second approach would be less intensive and would probably be less successful. It would involve seeding of the area to the planned mixture and mulching to conserve moisture. A commitment to an annual fertilization program for several years would be necessary as natural fertility is very low. O 7ha Soil Conservelion Service SCS-AS-1 LJ is an agency of ,he 1 1D-79 Department o! Agnc ultura