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• Additional Sheet • <br />i <br />Snyder Quarry 1995-1996 Annual Report <br />May 27, 1996 <br />Included with this report is the annual report map. This map shows the status of various <br />features within the operation. No map is provided of the road corridor as no changes occurred <br />there in the last year. <br />The only mining was a small piece on the top of the North Wall. This rounded the crest <br />of the wall to make it less objectionable. All other mining was within the main pit area and <br />mainly involved sales from extensive stockpiled material. <br />In the spring of 1995, the heavy precipitation caused some damage to the eastern side <br />of the operation. One storm was so large the drainage extending down and just outside the east <br />boundary of the permit flooded. This flood even filled the water storage pond, which was <br />essentially empty at the time. This pond has a capacity of nearly 1 million gallons. The pond <br />overflowed and the outflow continued down the access road and into the sediment ponds. <br />The sediment ponds are a two staged system. The second stage had never contained <br />water before. Yet this flood was so great it not only filled both ponds but washed out the dam, <br />the culvert, and the emergency overflow. The actual amount of rain received is unknown. <br />All damages were repaired, the dam replaced and made even stronger, and the culvert <br />system modified somewhat. No other damages occurred along the road other than some road <br />cut erosion that caused rocks and a few trees to fall on the road. This was cleaned and repairs <br />effected. <br />The only additional reclamation done at this site was Enhanced Reclamation, the <br />publicly funded program to mitigate visual impact. Alfalfa was planted on the Visual Betm to <br />increase the vegetation density. This planting was largely unsuccessful due to the already high <br />density of the vegetation. There is simply too much existing growth to allow for any more <br />growth, even though germination and growth conditions for alfalfa in 1995 were near ideal. <br />The small area labeled "Violation Reclamation" is the area where accidental rock <br />spillage damaged the existing vegetation outside the permit boundary. This repair is <br />progressing very well and today there is little evidence remaining of the damages. Tree <br />seedlings planted on this hillside are doing well and recovery of the natural vegetation is <br />excellent. <br />In early May 1996, trees were planted on the visual berm. Fifty, two to three foot tall <br />Pinon Pine and Juniper trees were planted along with about 100 seedlings. This planting, if <br />successful, will help to blend the vegetation of the Visual Berm into the forested land below, <br />south, and north of the berm, when viewed from the southeast. Competition from existing <br />vegetation is expected to be intense, but other trees, mainly Juniper, have been successful. <br />It is expected that mining during the next year will primazily concentrate on the West <br />Ridge, possibly bringing that to completion. Thus expansion of the existing affected land is not <br />expected in the next year. <br />Annual Report Snyder Quarry 95/96 M-77-210 Page 1 <br />