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FEOM BRLf1Z es ASS~CIRTES [NC • Fax N0. 979 253 9,-F • San. G13 2991 ga:47PM P2 Mr. Gregg ~~uire Page 2 December 30, 2000 the operator will plant a vegetative bazrier between the pits and the slough using cottonwoods and willows. These trees will be planted on the southern edge of the fifty (50) feet barrier left to protect the slough from mining. The cottonwoods are expected to be 6 to 10 feet high and will be planted on approximate 35 feet centers. The willows will be planted by cutting small branches from live trees and planting these sprigs along the bank of the slough. The willow sprigs will be on []tree (3) to live (5) feet centers. The operator will plant the trees for the visual barrier as mining starts in an area. The trees used for the visual barrier are expected to provide a basis for infiltration of cottonwoods and willows into the reclaimed areas of the west property line to horse fence attd slough to east property line mining areas thereby complementinn the trees planted around the periphery of the ponds during reclamation. Ttem 4 - Impact of renewable resource mining on heron rookery. The operator intends on mining the renewable resource area on an intermittent basis and only during low flow periods in the Colorado River. The low flow period is generally expected to be between October 1 and March 3 L. However, the low flow period will vary depending on snow pack and weather conditions in the drainage basin. As such the renewable resource area operating schedule may vary from that mentioned above if the water level in the Colorado River is low enough to allow safe mining in the renewable resource area before or after the above mentioned dates. After the initial mining of the renewable resource area, the frequency of mining will be determined by the tale of recharge and is expected to be variable ranging from as frequently as annually to as low as once every &ve years. The mining of the renewable resource area in the fall and winter of the year is expected to have tnittirrtal impact on the heron rookery as the nesting usually takes place in the spring and summer. Item 5 -Native fish. The ponds are incised anywhere from 15 to plus 30 feet. As such there is not any easy way to completely drain the ponds other than pumping. The operator is considering a commitment to plant only salmonid species in the ponds to convol the planting ofnon-native fish species. This approach is being considered since the ponds in the west property line to horse fence, slouch to east property line and Dry Creek Honing areas are in the 100 year floodplain and are expected to be covered by one to four feet of water if these type of high flows occur. In these high flow circumstances, outlet protection is iuelfedive and therefore is not considered. Item 6- Public Access. The operator does not wish to consider this public access to the reclaimed area at .this time.