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Page 2 • • March 27, 2000 "' Rio Blsnco County 2) VEGETATION: Existing vegetation on the proposed site is within the II Rolling Loam Range Site. Dominate species found on the site were western wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, muttongrass, blue grama, Indian ricegrass, beardless wheatgrass, big sagebrush, and tall rabbitbrush. Other species present include horsebrush, snakeweed, fringe sage, Lousiana sage, galleta, juniper, and pinion pine. Vegetative cover is approximately 20 percent, with annual forage production of about 1,000 pounds/acre air dry weight. 3) RECLAMATION RECOMMENDATIONS: During the operation of the pit, measures should be implemented to control water flows off of the pit areas, which would cause excessive erosion on slopes below the pit. Deposition of pit material should be prevented on the slopes below the pit. At the time the gravel pit is closed, the following reclamation recommendations should be followed to help insure a more successful revegetation of the site: The landowner proposes a post mining use of a hay stack yard on the floor of the pit and wants a porous gravel base left on this portion, without being reclaimed. The pit will require surface water from the upper side slopes and the pit floor to be diverted with graded contour ditches to a suitable non-erosive outlet. The lower reclaimed slopes will also need to be protected from the runoff flows to prevent erosion. The pit side slopes should be recontoured and smoothed to no steeper than 3:1 and preferably flatter, where practical. The flatter the slopes, the greater the opportunity of re- establishing the site with adequate vegetative cover. Areas which are compacted must first be ripped. The topsoil which was stockpiled, should be spread evenly over the side slopes to the extent possible to a depth of 6 inches or more. The site should then be tilled and firmed to prepare a suitable seedbed. Seeding of the site should be done in the late fall (October•lst or later) prior to the soil freezing. The seed should be drilled on the contour with a grass drill having double disk openers and packer wheels. Planting depth should be approximately 1/2 inch. If the seed will be broadcast instead of drilled, then the recommended seeding rate below must be doubled. If broadcasting is done, the seeded area should be harrowed or dragged to incorporate the seed into the soil after planting.