_INSPECTION - C1981041 (38) - Laserfiche WebLink

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III. COMMENTS - COMPLIANCE Below are comments on the inspection. The comments include discussion of observations made during the inspection. Comments also describe any enforcement actions taken during the inspection and the facts or evidence supporting the enforcement action. followed by the wood fiber hydro-mulch. Other backfilled and roughened slope areas associated with the South Portals reclamation project (e.g. the highwall backfill and reclaimed Access Road 1) were seeded and mulched in February (by the same method and contractor). Some recently emerged whitetop weeds (a noxious perennial species) were noted in certain locations, including the old reclaimed North Diversion ditch along the stone fence (mostly near the south end), berm behind the truck scales, and north end of the tamarisk control site along the conveyor corridor. The whitetop will need to be sprayed during April, as specified in the approved plan. A number of Scotch thistle rosettes were observed at the south end of the tamarisk control area, along the margin of the permanent reseeded conveyor corridor. Scotch thistle is a noxious biennial species, and will need to be mechanically or chemically treated to prevent seed formation. Subsequent to tamarisk control efforts a couple years ago along a portion of the conveyor corridor, there was a flush of annual weeds as well as noxious perennials (whitetop and Russian knapweed). By last summer, the dominant cover was a heavy growth of tall annual kochia, which is a summer annual. The dead brown growth of last year's kochia crop is visually dominant in the treatment area at present, but it appears that a vigorous growth of cheatgrass and associated winter annuals has taken hold in the understory. The treatment area was seeded with the approved stabilization seedmix after herbicide application, but seeded species are a relatively minor component of the cover to date. Numerous sprouts of tamarisk have also appeared since the initial treatment. Given the observation that tamarisk control efforts along the conveyor corridor and adjacent riparian habitat results in heavy growth of a suite of additional noxious and undesirable species, and given the further observation that tamarisk control along the river may not be successful unless undertaken in the context of a coordinated regional effort, it may be prudent for the operator to suspend further tamarisk control efforts within and adjacent to the riparian zone along the river, with the exception of those locations where tamarisk encroaches onto areas that have been seeded with the permanent seedmix. Tamarisk control should continue to be pursued in isolated locations away from the river corridor, such as sediment pond locations and along reclaimed ephemeral channels, as specified in the approved plan. 7