Laserfiche WebLink
The first step in the mining activity will be to clear three <br />or four acres for the initial excavation. As noted in the soils <br />report, Exhibit I, just about the only soils that can be salvaged <br />are those found in the Mountain Mahogany Community with small <br />amounts salvageable from west-facing slopes. On the whole only <br />about one-fourth of all the soil occurring at the site is worth <br />salvaging. <br />Where soil should be salvaged will be determined largely by <br />the vegetation growth. Where Mountain Mahogany is densest, the <br />cover of the grass understory is good, and where occassional <br />Junipers grow the soil is of the finest texture, greatest depth, <br />and probably has the highest organic matter content. Where <br />slopes are steep, the soil surface is coveresd with large rocks <br />end the Mountain Mahogany occurs in small clumps separated by <br />sparsely grass-covered ground. The soil is usually thin, stony <br />and of limited value in revegetation. These criteria are also <br />related to the steepness of the slope. Usually the stonier <br />soils that are not suitable for salvage ere on slopes steeper <br />than 2.5 to 1 while salvageable soils occur on slopes of 2.5 to 1 <br />or 3 to 1 end less. We believe vegetation growth is a better <br />indicator of soil salvageability than slope gradient. <br />Soils will be salvaged to a depth of approximately 6 to 12 <br />inches. The actual material will determine the depth of salvage. <br />Large rocks (4" or larger), unless composing more that 60% to 70% <br />of the volume, will not be removed. Unless so abundant that the <br />9 <br />