2009-05-16_REVISION - C1980006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Pond Demonstration - DrainageNegetation: Section 4.05.9(13) (a) The Tipple Pond with it's inflow ditch (the ditch skirts the southwest side of the Loadout site) collects runoff from the immediate reclaimed acreage of the Loadout site. An earthen berm around the entire perimeter of the site helps protect the site from receiving runoff from surrounding undisturbed areas and vise versa. The drainage/runoff area for the pond is less than 6 acres and nearly flat having an average flow gradient of approximately 0.5 % (percent). Consequently, erosion has not occurred and sediment buildup has been negligible given that permanent seeding of the site occurred in 1999, reseeding in 2000 and revegetation was deemed successful by sample/study in 2005. Likewise, actual discharge from the pond was only seldom over the course of approximately 30 years given the small drainage area and vegetation success on the site. The pond is designed to discharge to the nearby Illinois River, a tributary to the North Platte River. The Tipple Pond has been monitored and reported in AHR's over the life span of the pond. The reports are on file with the Division. (b) Water is impounded in the pond for the majority of the year and is usually adequate for watering of livestock and wildlife. (c) The gentle inslopes of the pond are not a safety hazard for livestock and/or wildlife. (d) There is no known diminution to the water quality or quantity to other water rights users. (e) The size of the pond is similar to other stock ponds and is adequate for the site and intended use. (f) The pond has supported use by wildlife (including water fowl) over many years and will be a benefit to the approved postmining land use. Vegetation Establishment: The Loadout site was disturbed in 1974, prelaw to subsequent requirements to salvage topsoil. Only a small quantity of topsoil was available at the site so Kerr brought in additional topsoil from the mine site (1999) and spread it at the Loadout to an approximate depth of 6 inches (1999 Annual Reclamation Report). The site was then seeded with the approved permanent seed mix, but with a poor response to that planting, Kerr reseeded the site again in 2000. To evaluate establishment of vegetation, statistically adequate samples of vegetative cover collected from each reclaimed area and each reference area are required. Vegetation establishment is considered acceptable if the cover of the revegetated area is at least 90% of the reference area or other approved standard with a 90% statistical confidence. Vegetative cover was measured on the Loadout and the corresponding reference areas in 2005. The mean vegetative cover measured on the Loadout in 2005 was 33.27%. Ninety percent of the acreage-weighted mean for 2005 reference area sampling was 31.7% cover. The vegetation data collected in 2005 met sample adequacy 2