Laserfiche WebLink
<br />2.3.5 Erosion Control Considerations <br />2.3.5.1 Existing Erosion <br />Existing soil erosion rates in areas to be affected by the mine operation vary with <br />the land form, soil characteristics and vegetation cover. Erosion potential exists for <br />three land forms with the area to be affected: <br />Valley filling fan and side slope deposits <br />Steep side slopes <br />Valley flood plains <br />Soil loss rates were not calculated for each land form type; however, the <br />~~ <br />presence of rills and gullies in the area substantiates the fact that a significant amount <br />of soil loss is realized annually from the undisturbed slopes. Soil loss in the flood plain <br />is negligible except for the cutting of the unvegetated stream banks that continue to <br />erode during periods of stream flow. <br />2.4 TOPSOIL MANAGEMENT <br />The primary goal of this topsoil management program is to realize effective <br /> <br />conservation and utilization of plant growth medium for the postmining land use. No <br />topsoil was salvaged prior to bench excavation or road construction. In accordance <br />with criteria existing at the time of disturbance, no salvageable topsoil existed at the <br />bench area and along the excavated portion of the road route, especially on steeper <br />slopes. Portions of the route did exhibit some week and grass growth. A great portion <br />of the road, located within an area exhibiting marginal topsoil, was established over the <br />existing road on the canyon floor. <br />All suitable topsoil materials from future areas to be affected will be removed as <br />a separate operation and stockpiled prior to effecting a disturbance, as discussed in <br />Section 2.4.2. Topsoil will be stockpiled in the vicinity of the disturbance, mulched and <br />seeded to wheat grasses in order to minimize erosion, and adequately marked to <br />preclude disturbance prior to reclamation, see Section 2.2.6 and 3.2.3. <br />Permit Renewal <br />2-27 <br />09/03 <br />