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• Snyder Quarry August 7, 1992 • <br />Williams Canyon Rock Slide Reclamation Status <br />by Mark Heffner <br />INTRODUCTION: Following are the results of a late summer inspection of the Williams <br />Canyon area. This report is a supplement to the Snyder Quarry annual report, requved by the <br />Mined Land Reclamation Act, submitted in May 1992. It was indicated in that annual report <br />that the Williams Canyon area could not usefully be examined in early May. This is because <br />this area is largely natural vegetation that has been damaged and therefore needs to be <br />monitored as though it is an undisturbed, natural community. Therefore, this report supplies <br />the information required in that annual report. Unfortunately, futwe annual reports for this <br />quarry will require this same procedure where the information for Williams Canyon will be <br />provided in August or September rather than May. <br />Results of inspection - <br />During the inspection the slope was traversed back and forth from top to bottom and <br />anything that appeared significant was noted. [n particular, tree seedlings were counted and <br />grass growth in the depressions created by the bouncing boulders was examined. Each <br />depression that could be located was examined to see if headward erosion was occurring. <br />Photographs were also taken from the bottom of the spillage area for comparison with previous <br />photographs, especially those taken shortly after the MLRD examination of the spillage and <br />MLRB consideration. <br />From the crest of the canyon, the spillage area appeared to be in excellent condition <br />with dense shrub and grass growth. Of course, the period of time has been too short for <br />significant return of tree growth. From the crest it was also evident that the large boulders at <br />the bottom of the spillage area were less visible due to the significant growth of shrubs around <br />the rocks. <br />At the very edge of the quarry and in about the middle of the top of the spillage swath <br />several thistles were noted. It appeared these were Bull Thistle, a rather innocuous annual, but <br />in some situations it is quite difficult to tell whether a particular plant is a Bull Thistle or a <br />Canada Thistle. Either way, early in the next growing season, these thistles and any others in <br />the area should be eradicated. If it is Bull Thistle, simply digging out the plant would be <br />sufficient, but if it is Canada Thistle (rhizomes present, rather than a taproot, found by digging <br />into the ground) then a chemical treatment will be necessary. <br />Counting tree seedlings on the slope was very difficult due to the robust growth of <br />grasses and shrubs that have occurred since the disturbance was created. Finding an 18 inch <br />tall tree growing among grass plants that are 30 to 36 inches tall and shrubs that are 5 to 6 feet <br />tall and heavily leaved to the base, is quite challenging. Nevertheless, a total of 27 tree <br />seedlings were found. Most of those had flags near them. It is highly probable that they had <br />been planted. <br />Page 1 of 3 1992 Annual Report Supplement M-77-210 Snyder Quarry <br />