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RECEIVED <br />Other Reclamation Work JUN 0 9 2003 <br />Oivisi n f Min rats and Geology <br />Tree Planting: The roadside planting on the long slope beside the road and just ~e1ow the <br />quarry entrance was examined. The tree plantings here are doing well, but the planting that was <br />done was far too thin to have an effect that will blend the site into the surrounding forest. <br />Additional planting should be done. It is estimated that two to three times as many trees should <br />be planted as are already there. <br />Also, further down the road are other spills that have some tree growth, but need <br />considerably more. These slopes should also be thickly planted. <br />These slopes are north facing and can handle a good deal of tree cover without causing <br />excessive competition for moisture. These slopes should be planted such that they create a cover <br />density not unlike that of the adjacent undisturbed forest. <br />In addition, tree planting can be done on the back benches of the quarry. Large trees were <br />planted there several years ago but it appears they all died. Planting with a good density of <br />pinyon and juniper seedlings would be appropriate under the enhanced reclamation plan. <br />On the visual berm are a large number of Russian Olive trees. These were severely <br />battered a number of years ago by a large snow storm and most are in poor condition with many <br />broken branches. Because Russian Olive is now a prohibited species in Colorado, these trees <br />should be removed. Replacement plantings with pinyon and juniper would be appropriate, but the <br />emphasis should be on juniper rather than pinyon. The underlying materials on this berm is a <br />heavy subsoil and tends to favor juniper. Pinyon requires a more open and well drained soil and <br />has never done well here in the past. There is no reason to think it will do any better in the future. <br />If desired, only juniper can be planted as replacements for the Russian Olive trees. <br />There are Russian Olive trees at Queens Canyon as well, but it is not necessary to remove <br />those, unless you want to. The environment at Snyder is more favorable for expansion of Russian <br />Olive into nearby drainages whereas at Queens Canyon there isn't much of any place the Russian <br />Olive can expand into. Russian Olive is now considered a noxious weed in Colorado, but it is <br />only considered noxious in the wetter environments. It is now against the law to sell or plant this <br />species in Colorado. <br />If you have any questions, please call. <br />Snyder Quarry Weeds Survey Report - May 2003 Page 4 <br />