Laserfiche WebLink
<br />FINAL_GRADING <br />The final grade is very important to the success to the <br />reclamation process. To make the most of the scant <br />precipitation, the area must be fairly flat with the side <br />slopes no steeper than 5 to 1. <br />The subsoil material stored in stockpiles shall be used to <br />cover the spoil material and to establish a final grade <br />prior to applying the topsoil material. Once the grade is <br />established, the entire site to be reclaimed should be <br />ripped or subsoiled to a depth adequate to break the <br />compaction in the spoil material and the subsoil. A minimum <br />ripping depth of 24 inches should be adequate. The ripper or <br />subsoiler should be spaced at a maximum width of 3 feet. <br />The topsoil material must be applied uniformly over the <br />entire area at a depth of at least 8 inches. <br />While spreading the topsoil, surface irregularities that <br />will limit water erosion such as water courses, depressions <br />and furrows must be installed. <br />If these features are not carefully planned and installed, <br />the results of runoff may destroy the reclamation effort. <br />Tools such as basin blades and contour furrowers can be very <br />useful in the installation of an irregular surface. <br />SEEDBED_PREPARATION <br />After the topsoil is evenly spread, conventional farming <br />equipment can be used to prepare the desired seedbed. The <br />site is removed from the principle farming areas, but <br />perhaps the seedbed preparation can still be contracted with <br />a farmer using his equipment. <br />All operations will be conducted following the contour of <br />the land. The following is a listing of the minimal <br />preparations needed: <br />1) Removal of all large stones and rocks that will <br />damage equipment. Hand labor will generally be required. <br />2) Subsoiling to mix subsoil and topsoil layers and to <br />fracture any compaction. <br />3) Primary tillage with offset disk, rotary tiller or <br />chisel plow to loosen soil and destroy weed growth. <br />4) Packing the soil surface to break clods, bury rocks <br />and firm the seedbed. <br />