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1996/97 Reclamation <br />Reclamation during the past year has concentrated on revegetation work on the new mining <br />azeas. If the reclamation azea on Map 2 is compared with the Mining area on Map 1 the considerable <br />overlap is evident. This is the result of using the new approach to reclamation of benches, that is, <br />immediate backfilling and topsoiling of benches as they are completed. Although, as expected, bench <br />collapse is still occurring, the effetts of those events on reclamation are minimal. This is because the <br />ingredients for reclamation are already in place when the collapse occurs and repair occurs rapidly. In <br />effect, the progress of the reclamation and the quality of that reclamation is very nearly as expetted <br />and described in the last amendment for this operation. <br />A total of 6.8 acres of reclamation was done at this quarry in the last year. All of this involved <br />reclamation of actual quarried land rather than land in the support area as has occurred in the past. As <br />benches are completed, fill and soil is placed on the benches. Late in the permit yeaz the CMRF <br />planted a total of about 700 Douglas Fir seedlings throughout this azea. Of that number about 150 <br />trees were part of Castle's Base Reclamation requirement. The remainder of the seedlings were part of <br />the Enhanced Reclamation. Afrer the trees were planted the entire area was seeded with a grass <br />mixture identical co the one listed in the permit as needed for Area MV. <br />1997/1998 Affected Land <br />It is not expected that during the next yeaz any additional land will be disturbed. Mining is <br />proceeding down the slope below Peak k3 and is slowly extending in the direction of the south end of <br />the quarry. Preliminary plans for initiating mining in the south azea are being developed. In <br />preparation for that mining, the western corner where Areas MV and MS join was laid back. Although <br />this involved enlargement of the disturbance in this area, the enlargement was smaller than originally <br />anticipated. With the connection between Areas MV and MS established, the approach to mining Area <br />MS is more clearly evident. Whether actual extraction will begin in Area MS in the next year cannot <br />be determined. There is from 5 to 25 feet of weathered limestone on top of the desired material. This <br />must be removed prior to mining, although some useful rock may be derived from chat "overburden." <br />This "overburden" is actually shot rock lefr at the end of the mining by the previous operator back <br />about 1960 and has been affected by weathering. It's utility for quality aggregate is questionable, but its <br />distinctive "gold ore" color may make some of it useful for xeriscape landscaping uses. <br />Annual Report Pikeview Quarry 96/97 M-77-211 Page 2 <br />