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<br />Cooperative Extension <br />CdorWO Sn[e Utilve[slty <br />Tt( Rlva Area <br />xeolv'o Montrose <br />RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR <br />RECLAMATION SITES <br />IN OURAY COUNTY COLORADO <br />ELEVATION 6000 TO 8000 FEET <br />A. WAYNE COOLEY <br />AREA EXTENSION AGENT (AGRONOMY) <br />TRI RIVER AREA <br />COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION <br />AND <br />JOIiN HURRAY <br />RANGE CONSERVATIONIST <br />NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) <br />MONTROSE, COLORADO <br />LAND PREPARATION: The first step to be taken in an area that <br />will need to be reclaimed is to stockpile the topsoil for use <br />when reseeding. Depending on the location, this will be the top <br />6" to 12" inches of soil. <br />:The disturbed area that will be reseeded should have slopes that <br />'are no greater than a 3 to 1 ratio (33~ slope). <br />Activities that create considerable soil compaction (e.g. Gravel <br />Pits), a ripping operation of 8 to 10 inches should take place <br />before replacing the top soil.. The scarification process on <br />highly compacted soils provides at least two benefits. <br />Fracturing the soil allows for root penetration and forms pockets <br />for capturing moisture. <br />After the topsoi_1 is replaced, a firm seedbed is required before <br />planting grass seed. A common cause of seeding failure is <br />inadequate seedbed preparation. The seedbed should be firm <br />enough to allow good seed-to-soil contact. A firm seedbed helps <br />to retain moisture in the top 1 to 3 inches of soil and prevents <br />excessive seeding depths. <br />SEEDING TIME: The seeding time with the greatest success is a <br />dormant. seeding from. October 1-15 for areas that cannot be <br />irrigated. At this time the soil temperature is cool enough to <br />prevent seed germinatiorE until the following spring. Grass seed <br />starts germinating when the soil temperature reaches 40 to 42 <br />619 Maly IIY11 NatA 2nd CsuntY Gsurthaae Anrc; <br />P.O. Box 2400b507J FdeMsAlp Hall Rh h I'allaer <br />Grunt JuMTIOn, Cnlgadp 6130E-5O7a Nonlnne. (abraJo MI WI OcIfL Cnloruto al~lh <br />D071 IM•163a 4M131 Ea'~39d3 (.11111 a7tt51Y <br />Colondo Snte l'nl.•crsltY. US. Department o(Aarlculture amt Delta. Mea. Montrose and (hsn3• Gwn[la coopentln4 <br />.\_~,~.:::, Coopersth•e Eatcnsfon proarams ate avall-bk to all wl[hout dlsMminaHon. <br />a~h~i. <br />