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RECLAMATION PLAN <br />furrowing does not look very natural, but as any farmer will attest, it is one <br />of the best soil and water management techniques available for shallow slope <br />and even same moderate and steep slope situations. From the point of view of <br />erosion cmtrol and maximizing water utilization, producing a smooth surface <br />is just about the ww^st actim possi62e and will rtot be done in this <br />reclamation process. <br />Along the gas line corridor, Colorado Interstate Gas prefers to see a <br />maximum gradient slope of 1.5:1. I-bwever, a 1.5:1 slope is nearly at the <br />angle of repose and is very difficult to revegetate, even when it faces north. <br />Therefore, excavations near the pipeline will be replaced with a slope not <br />steeper than 3:1 on the south facing side and not steeper than 2.5:1 on the <br />north side. These gradients are often crosidered the steepest a slope can be <br />and still provide an opportunity for quick and good density revegetation in a <br />semi-arid to arid climate such as this one. <br />Water for the project needs will be purchased locally. Water trucks <br />will be used to haul the water to the site as needed. <br />WILDLIFE: Wildlife resources on the site are minimal. Therefore the effect <br />of the operation on the wildlife will be minor. Displacement of small mammals <br />and birds will occur, but they will return to the site after reclamation. <br />Large game animals are not common on this land, although same Prmghorns do <br />range in this area. The effects of the operation on these animals will be <br />minimal and will be mitigated by reclamation. <br />TCx'SC]ILING: Replacement of topsoil on this operation is important to the <br />eventual success of the revegetation. The gravel rests m tap of a shale <br />layer. In old cuts where this shale is exposed the growth is very poor and <br />erosion is a moderate problem. Fbwever, this shale layer can be utilized to <br />advantage in the revegetation, as will be explained later. <br />Soil salvage occurred during the mining process. The volume of soil <br />acquired was dependent largely on the depth of the soil encountered and the <br />type of soil. This situation calls for judicious use of the salvaged soil and <br />augmentation with waste fines to increase the depth of the rooting zone. <br />As a rule, soil salvaged from one area will be replaced immediately or <br />replaced a few months after removal on regraded land and readied for <br />revegetation. This haulback method of soil handling preserves the quality of <br />Page 14 <br />