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United States Department of Agriculture -14- Soil Conservation Service EXHIBIT D (3 of 4) M 910 Wansted P.O. Box 845 Eads, Colo. 81036 September 20, 1990 Kiowa County Commissioners P.O. Box 591 Eads, Colorado 80136 re: Reclamation plan - Gravel pit on Quarter Circle L. T. Inc. land Gentlemen: Find attached the soil and site information for the above. The plan recommendations and comments follow below. In view of the transient nature of the streambed of Adobe Creek, where the gravel pit operations and any reclamation efforts would occur, I be- lieve an elaborate and intensive reclamation plan would be unwarranted and, for the most part, foolhardy. One heavy flow down Adobe Creek gen- erally would greatly alter or completely obliterate the best laid plan of reclamation. A conversation with the landowner, Mr. Richard Grey, also reinforced the thought that reclamation efforts should be as simple and low cyst as possible, while at the same time being of value in im- proving t7e site for wildlife and livestock uses. It is from that aspect that I will suggest two possible ways of proceed- ing with :~ plan for the site. The simplest and first proposed plan would be, A. fence the site. B. remove the surface sand and travel. C. grade the disturbed soil to the general slope of the streambed and D. seed the rites to adapted native grasses. The entire gravel operation site and reclaimed areas therein would be fenced during the period of mining and reclamation to exclude cattle. One or two access points (watering gaps} to any standing or live water could be fenced into the streambed on nonerosive, natural slopes. The proper°ties of the Haverson clay loam, that underlies all the gravel deposits, nearly precludes the need to remove material beyond the depth of the original soil surface, as the Haverson soil is unsuitable for sand or gravel due to excess fines. The exception to this would be the additional removal of soil below the original surface to be used as roadfill. Haverson is rated as good for use as such. Planning i'or the potential use of the Haverson soil material, in addi- tion to removal of sand and gravel deposits, dictates the use of a more involved, but still simple, reclamation operation. The primary concern of the plain being the flooding hazard to any activities in the stream- bed. The main difference is the incorporation of excavated sediment basins to intercept flood flows. Such basins would help diminish the erosiveness of flood flows, reduce sediment and provide some protection to down-si,ream operations. During non-flood periods the basins could provide omen water areas for wildlife and livestock as water is available to fill them. Eventually the basins would fill with sand and gravel and could be excavated for that material.