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(iii) Types and methods of planting, including the amount of grasses or legumes per acre, <br />• or the number and spacing of trees or tree seedlings, or combinations of grasses and trees <br />The project area encompasses two vegetation types: Pinyon-Juniper woodland (approximately 25 <br />percent) and Rolling Loam prairie (approximately 75 percent). The Pinyon-Juniper community <br />consists of. Pinyon pine, Utah juniper, Indian ricegrass, beardless wheatgrass, mountain <br />mahogany, prairie junegrass, with scattered sagebrush and serviceberry. The Rolling Loam <br />community consists of: Western wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, big sagebrush, Douglas <br />rabbitbrush, streambank wheatgrass, and needleandthread. <br />Topsoil in the project area is 12 inches or less in depth. During access road and drilling pad <br />construction, woody vegetation within disturbed areas was cleared using a hydro-ax, leaving <br />chipped woody vegetation on the surface. Topsoil and the chipped woody vegetation within <br />disturbed areas was stripped to a depth of about 12 inches and placed in piles adjacent to the <br />roadway or drilling pad. All topsoil was segregated from, and stored in stockpiles separate from, <br />any subsoil that was removed during grading operations. Topsoil stockpiles will be protected <br />from degradation due to contamination, compaction, and from wind and water erosion. Topsoil <br />stockpiles were seeded with certified weed-free seed mixtures and will be covered with <br />geotextile fabrics. Temporary erosion and sediment controls were installed around the <br />downgradient perimeter of all soil stockpiles and will be maintained until the area has been fully <br />reclaimed. <br />During reclamation, disturbed areas will be regraded, using stockpiled subsoil where necessary, <br />• to create a subgrade that conforms, as nearly as practicable, to the pre-construction surface <br />contours. To assure the stability of the replaced topsoil, the surface of the subgrade will be <br />roughened prior to replacing the topsoil. Stockpiled topsoil will be returned to pre-construction <br />depths and locations to a minimum depth of six inches, and the area will be reseeded with <br />approved seed mixes, as described below. In compacted areas, soils will be loosened using a <br />tractor-pulled ripper or similar device, as necessary. Reseeding operations will take into account <br />environmental factors such as seasonal patterns of precipitation, temperature, and wind; soil <br />texture and fertility; slope stability and the direction the slope faces. If it is determined that the <br />topsoil material is deficient in nutrients, fertilizer will be added. To prevent erosion, certified <br />weed-free straw mulch will be applied over seeded areas at a rate of 2000 lbs/acre and crimped <br />in. If necessary, erosion control measures, such as geotextile fabrics may be installed. <br />During project operations, and as part of the site reclamation, care will be taken to prevent any <br />noxious weed species from becoming established in the project area. Pre-construction field <br />surveys will be conducted each spring prior to construction, to identify existing noxious weed <br />infestations within the project area. BLM and local weed agencies will be consulted to develop <br />treatment strategies for noxious weed infestations identified during spring surveys. Vehicles and <br />equipment arriving at the work site will be clean, power-washed, and free of soil and vegetative <br />debris capable of transporting weed seeds or other propagules. The distribution and density of <br />noxious weeds in the project area will be monitored, and any new or expanded populations will <br />be controlled and/or eradicated for the life of the RD&D project and throughout final <br />reclamation. See Appendix 9-1 for the Pesticide Use Permit issued by the BLM. <br />C, <br />53