Laserfiche WebLink
<br />RECLAIMATION RE COFL~iENDATIONS <br />West Tennessee and Jones Sand and Gravel Pits <br />Chuck Webster <br />The following recommendations are suggested as guidelines for preparing <br />your revegetation plans. These recommendations should be applicable to both <br />mine sites. <br />Minin Operations <br />1) General - A well planned mining operation can do much to minimize disturb- <br />ances. Preferrably mining should progress in stages allowing reclaimation <br />of one area while a new area is being developed. This may or may not be <br />appropriate depending on the size and location of sand and gravel deposits. <br />If applicable it will spread out reclaimation efforts and costs over the <br />life of the mines. The present mining plans include excavation of material <br />down to, and below the level of the watertable at both mines. This will <br />minimize reclaimation needs by creating small lakes. Reclaimation will be <br />needed only on the side slopes (or banks) of the pits. Creation of small <br />islands caithin the lakes should be considered to inhance wildlife potentials <br />and esthetics. Varying the depth of the lake bottoms should also improve <br />wildlife potentials. <br />The present plans at the West Tennessee pit exclude any disturbance in or <br />along the Creek. Efforts to divert and retain runoff before it reaches the <br />Creek should be continued. As long as these efforts are continued and mining <br />does not encroach into the Creek bottom, no special efforts are needed in <br />this area. <br />2) Topsoil - Where topsoil is present, it should be removed and stockpiled for <br />replacement after mining. <br />3) Slopes - Slopes created by pit mining operations will need revegetation. <br />Slopes should not be steeper than 4:1. In general, the chances for vege- <br />tation establishment increases as steepness of slopes decreases. Steep- <br />ness of slopes should vary to crest a pleasing, natural appearance. The <br />planned depth of the pits will create long, contineous slopes. These long <br />grades should be shortened by creating contour benches. This will aid in <br />controlling erosion and ease establishment of new seedings. <br />4) Drainage - gxcess runoff should not be allowed to flow onto disturbed areas. <br />Topsoil Application and Soil Reconstruction <br />1) After final shaping and grading have been completed, stockoiled topsoil <br />should be returned to the site. The area should then be tilled to a depth <br />of 6 to 8 inches. Tillage permits topsoil to bind with the existing soil <br />material. Binding of soil layers prevents air pockets, encourages root <br />penetration, and prevents topsoil slippage an slopes. <br />