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.. Page. - 2 • <br />Site C (Gillespie Hill) <br />This site is the oldest reclamation site at the quarry. It is a terr- <br />aced area covering approximately 7 acres. The reclamation work is con- <br />centrated on the slopes which have northeast and east aspects. No work <br />has been done on the top of the site as it will be blended with an exist- <br />ing dump site above and to the southwest of it. <br />Because it is an older site this area is very high in gypsum content. <br />Reclamation efforts on this site have been very extensive it being the <br />site of a previous drip irrigation system. Manure was also hauled in <br />and spread on part of the site. <br />Work this year on the site consisted only of fill in planting where die <br />off occured. Most of the site was mulched as grass cover was poor. <br />The area covered with manure shows little if any increased production <br />over the uncovered areas. Better cover was accomplished but this con- <br />sisted of the weedy species downy brome (Bromus tecturom) and summer cypress <br />(Kochia scoparia). I feel that their density severely hinders the estab- <br />lishment of better grasses .by exhausting the available soil moisture. <br />Shrub species planted on this site were fourwing saltbush and fringed sage. <br />Both species are doing well although growth is not as good as on Site A. <br />No tree seedlings were planted on this site because there is a significant <br />number of older plantings, mostly ,juniper, growing here. <br />Golden rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflous) is invading the site as <br />is Indian ricegrass. The rabbitbrush is doing the best on an unplanted <br />area which is high in limestome content. This area is going to be left <br />unplanted so we can observe its progress and see if it might be practical <br />to use spoil high in limestone for the A horizon and allow the areas to <br />revegetate naturally. <br />Site D (Zinc Hill) <br />This is an old high-wall site that was pushed down and terraced wherever <br />possible. Mine spoils were hauled in and spread out on the lower part of <br />the site. The remainder consist mostly of gypsum rock. The entire site co- <br />vers approximately 2 acres and has a northeast aspect. <br />Shrub and tree seedlings were planted on this site to fill in where die off <br />occured and to increase densities. A mix of 7 shrub species were planted <br />along with 4 species of trees. Fourwing saltbush, fringed sage and squaw <br />currant are the outstanding shrub species. Some 2 year old shrubs, rose <br />(Rosa sp.) and gambel oak (Quercus gambeli), are also growing on the site. <br />Ponderosa pine is the most noticeable tree species. <br />Palatable species are heavily browsed on this site and this contributes <br />greatly to seedling loss. Fourwing saltbush and ponderosa pine suffer the <br />most from this browsing. <br />