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soil is covered with rock after rain has washed the surface fines. This type of coverage <br />has been equated to two tons per acre of straw (Harper 1982). Reasonable rates of <br />application are one to two inches of rock material mixed into the top six inches of soil. <br />Rock materials for use in reclamation can be salvaged or mined at the site or obtained <br />from sources such as the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) gravel reject piles <br />and commercial gravel sources. <br />The Dog Valley Mine (J. B. King Mine) and Hidden Valley Mine in Emery County <br />have both used rock mulch. The rock mulch has been more effective in controlling erosion <br />than previous use of straw and erosion control matting. <br /> <br />???FFF t +?i .]? <br />Figure 3.2. A roughened surface and <br />slash mulch laid across this reclaimed <br />exploration road prevents off-road vehicle <br />access. Deer Creek Mine Exploration. <br />Slash <br />Slash refers to plant material salvaged prior <br />to disturbance. These are dead shrubs, trees, <br />brush, and tree and shrub parts. Revegetation work <br />in Canyon Lands National Park has shown greater <br />success with large mulch objects rather than straw <br />or hay mulch (Belnap, unpublished) The large slash <br />mulch helps reduce water and wind erosion, provides <br />protection from large herbivores, and traps seed and <br />fine soils on the reclaimed area. Unlike hay or straw <br />mulches, slash does not introduce competitive weed <br />seeds. Also, slash does not concentrate moisture at <br />the soil surface, causing seeds to germinate when <br />conditions are not favorable. <br />Slash mulch is limited to those <br />operations that can use the salvaged <br />plant material immediately, or have <br />space to stockpile the material. Slash <br />has been successfully used at Utah <br />..?. <br />J? < <br />L. <br />sites in reclaiming exploration drill Figure 3.3: The large slash mulch will provide protection <br />pads and roads in forest areas. from cattle grazing. Deer Creek Mine Exploration. <br />Numerous logs laid perpendicular to roads acts as a deterrent to off-road vehicles and <br />grazing cattle, while visually enhancing barren, reclaimed areas. Piles of slash left on the <br />Horse Canyon Mine reclaimed site has made excellent burrows for rodents and snakes. <br />Straw, Grass Hay, and Alfalfa <br />Straw, grass hay and alfalfa must be obtained from fields that are certified by the <br />Country Extension Agent as noxious weed-free. These materials are generally applied at