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• Rapidly increasing population and potentially large-scale urbanization of val- <br />ley lands along Highway 82 might put intense pressure on the site for an al- <br />ternative long-term land use at the end of the project. (See drawing D-4-19.) <br />4.5.2.1. HAUL ROAD AND TRUCK DUMP SITE <br />The construction of the haul road across the Crvstal River Ranch involved <br />upgrading and paving approximately 9600 feet of previously existing ranch <br />access road and the construction of approximately 2000 feet of new road. In <br />addition, to the road construction, a dirt berm and board fence were con- <br />structed along a portion of the haul road to shield the ranch homes from the <br />anticipated heavy truck traffic. Groves of trees were also planted along the <br />road at strategic areas to further reduce the impact of the haul trucks on the <br />ranching operation. <br />The owners of the Crystal River Ranch have requested that the haul road_and <br />truck dump site be left in place along with portions of the dirt berm, the <br />board- fence-and other landscaping. The operators of the ranch have come ac- <br />customed to using the haul road and believe the road increases the efficiency <br />of the ranch operation. The truck dump site is currently being used as a hay <br />storage area. Less than two acres of cultivated land were distributed by the <br />• construction of the haul road and truck dump site. The landowner is satisfied <br />that the loss of two acres of cultivated land is worth the benefit of having <br />the haul road and truck dump site left in place. <br />In a letter to the Operator dated August 14, 1989, page 4-96c, the owners of <br />the Crystal River Ranch restated their position regarding the reclamation of <br />the paved haul road. The letter states that the paved haul road has provided <br />better sccess to the farmland and eliminated the need to build other roads on <br />the land. The letter further states that the ability to use the entire paved <br />haul road has allowed them to farm more land more efficiently than would <br />otherwise be the case. <br />In a letter to the Operator dated August 8, 1989, page 4-96d, the Soil Conser- <br />vation Service, District Conservationist gave his opinion of the reclamation <br />of paved haul road. His letter confirms the belief that the road may actually <br />increase the productivity of the ranch. It further states that the maximum <br />economic loss attributable to taking two acres out of production is about 5600 <br />per year. <br />The postmining land use of the haul road and truck dump site will be pas- <br />tureland which is the land use as shown on Drawing D-3-3. The haul road and <br />.. truck dump site will fall under the category of land used for facilities in <br />support of pastureland. <br />4-100 Rev. 7-11-91 <br />