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Section 780.18 (b) Continued. r~ U to smoother more polished surfaces. This roughness virtually eliminates the potential of soil slippage and aeaures greater moisture permeability between the overburden/topsoil interface. (Bauer et. al. 1976). Erosional processes on the newly applied topsoil can be checked by leaving the topsoils rough until final grading is necessary for seedbed preparation. The tracks created by the scrapers as they lay down the topsoil across the contour will tend to effectively reduce overland flow and the potential loan of topsoil from these sites due to the "terracing" effect on the reapplied topsoil. Numerous studies have shown that topsoil itself is highly effective as mulch due to its ability to control erosion and assist in mois- ture conservation (See e.g. Power, et. al, 1974, ARS-NDSU (1975), Dollhopf, et. al., 1977). Following application of the topsoil all sites will be chisel plowed in order to alleviate compaction and promote water infiltration thus reducing the possibility of over- land erosional processes. Chisel plowing has been a highly effec- tive means of temporarily stabilizing sites prior to vegetation establishment. Dollhopf, et. al. (1977) reported that at the Savage, Beulah and Colstrip surface mines chisel plowed topsoil was surpassed only by the radical treatment of dozer basins in reducing overland water flow from reclaimed mine sites. The water detention capacity of chisel plowing on reapplied topsoil is reported by Dollhopf, et. al. (1977) as 176,400 liters per hectare or 2521.3 cubic feet per acre. As explained previously, both the Kerr Mine Area and Kerr Tipple Area will be contour fur- rowed following seeding. A typical cross section of a contour furrow is found in Figure 19, Typical Design of Contour Furrow. According to data taken at the existing Marr Mine, the detention • capacity of these furrows when spaced 30 feet apart is 2599.7 cubic 780-81