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term successful establishment of pasture stands adapted to dryland conditions. ?M? had <br />suggested consideration of rnadified practices for dryland pasture establishment irrigation, <br />but F apparently has decided to eliminate the practice of irrigation far establishrr?ent <br />entirely, far dryland pasture plantings. The referenced text description on page ?e}- l l was <br />properly deleted However, there is secvrrd brief referer?ee to irrigation far establishment <br />of dryland pasture on amended page {e}-33. please delete the reference to dryland <br />pasture irrigation for establishment in the first full paragraph on amended page <br />?.1?5.4????e}-?. <br />S'?e new co?ntnent ?4 regarding ?h? need f or amore dtai? opt pra??ices associated wi??t <br />ry?and pasture seedins, ?f ir?rra?io?t?or ???ab?is?r?nent wi?? trot ?e used. <br />? ?. ? had questioned whether mater availability and water rights were sufficient to <br />ensure that irrigation would continue to be feasible on irrigated pasture and cropland <br />following bond release, due in part to the fact that permit information indicated an increase <br />in irrigated acreage of ?7 a.cres, folloir?g reclamation. Revised acreages for various land <br />use categories presented in the amended application indicate that the area of irrigated land <br />excluding drainage sales} is actually reduced by approximately l ? acres on the pastmine <br />landscape, compared to pxemine. F indicated their belief vas that "sufficient water is <br />available since AFC is able to use the water currently..." Please verify that there have <br />been nv water rights transfers or other changes in recent years that mould preclude <br />landowners from continuing to irrigate all of the irrigated reclamation acreage <br />following bond release. <br />i 3. ?[L? had requested re?atrvely m?r?or c?ar?ficatzor? regarding the established standards <br />applicable to irrigated hay cropland and irrigated pastureland. subsequently, w?' became <br />concerned based on recent production records far reclaimed f fields, that the approved 1.5 <br />tan per acre standard for reclaimed irrigated pastureland might be excessive, for at least a <br />portion of the site, given the sail types present and other factors. As a result, the operator <br />contacted a number of local farmers and the N Narwoad Area ?esaurce <br />anservatianist, and gathered support far a proposed reduction of the standard from t .5 <br />tons per acre to I.a tans per acre for a portion ofthe irrigated pasture reclamation, <br />specifically the reclaimed irrigated pasture areas east of ?74? road. <br />This request to lower the standard has had the effect of re-opening the concept of the use o <br />technical standard to scrutiny Technical standards have been approved far use at the <br />mine since initial permitting in the 18a's. `fhere is a good synopsis of the reasons for use <br />of technical standards for lrr?gated lands ?n the permit area on pages 2.a4.10# 17 and <br />2.4.1 a- l 8 of the PAp: <br />?t was Pea?od?'s opinion and is WF?' s opr"nior? ?1?a? adequd?e rec?a?natior? success <br />s?a?dards cast be developed wit?tout the use of reference areas wi?l? the exception a?` <br />dryland pasture. ?aselir?e sampling daring ?1re 1987 f ie?? season r?od?r,t?rned tl?? <br />great ?arr'ation irr n?ar?a?ger?ent o?jec?ives of indiuidua?s and the ?igh?y diverse <br />nature of tie sails, ealagy, aid grand and s??fae ??a?e? regimes. ? a?? case. <br />?1te at?aen? pans o operators ooh within ar?d adjacent ?a the s?ud? area <br />S