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3-1 <br /> <br />3.0 RECLAMATION PLAN <br />This reclamation plan addresses rehabilitation of the McClave Canyon Mine located in <br />Garfield County, Colorado. The area is located in a zone of transition between saltbrush desert <br />and pinyon-juniper woodland. Precipitation is about 10 inches annually and soils are derived <br />mainly from sandstone alluvium / colluvium. Although precipitation is low, soils are more <br />favorable for reclamation than the shale derived soils of many salt desert areas. Research and <br />demonstration of reclamation in salt desert has been reported in the works of McKell, VanEpps, <br />and co-workers in Utah. A bibliography of those works and other relevant works is contained at <br />the end of this section. These works have demonstrated the need for the use of adapted native <br />plant species and maintenance of favorable soil moisture through mulching, surface <br />manipulation, and/or limited irrigation. The land uses prior to mining activity were wildlife habitat <br />and rangeland. The site will be returned to these land uses following mining. <br />Sites to be reclaimed include the mine portal and facilities area, that portion of the haul road <br />which was widened for mining activities, and the sedimeht pond, topsoil storage and office areas <br />J <br />(se ctamation Map, Fgure 3.1.1). Of these areas to be reclaimed, all but the sediment pond, <br />topsoil storage and office areas were disturbed prior SMCRA. Removal of topsoil is therefore <br />confined to those areas which were or are to be disturbed after the enactment of SMCRA. That <br />portion of the haul road existing prior to mining will be reclaimed even though access for local <br />ranchers using areas to the east will be eliminated. <br /> <br />M~ Volume 1 4-29-96 <br />