2010-06-02_INSPECTION - C1981008

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111. 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. less alfalfa. There were swaths across the southern portion of the area that had apparently not been irrigated yet this year, where the grass was only 10" high and showing drought stress. Production across the entire area is reduced compared to most years due to the late availability of irrigation water. A small prairie dog colony (2 or 3 holes) has developed on the western edge of the Garvey parcel. A relatively bare area 1 /10 acre or less was observed on the relatively steep northeast in-slope to Pond 7. There were scattered annual weeds within the dry patch, and a few Canada thistle plants along the margin. The area is apparently not reached by the sprinkler spray, and is bypassed by flow from an adjacent swale. Given the small size and location on the steep pond in-slope, the bare patch is not significant, with respect to forage production within the parcel. However, disking and seeding of the area with the stabilization seedmix is warranted, to prevent establishment of undesirable weeds. A small patch of Russian knapweed (approximately 10' by 10') was observed further to the south, approximately 150' east of the pond. This patch and the thistle along the margins of the bare spot will need to be sprayed in accordance with the approved weed control plan. The final irrigated area observed was Phase III Area 3, a 4.2 acre wedge shaped parcel along the eastern permit boundary (Photo 3), north of 5th street, owned by Moore. The parcel is irrigated by hand set sprinklers and a big gun, but most of the area had not yet been irrigated this year. The vegetation stand is mostly brome, with a scattering of alfalfa and some intermediate wheatgrass. Ground cover is good but vegetation is short over most of the unit due to the fact that most of the area (with the exception of small swath at the north end) had not yet been irrigated. In summary, each of the three irrigated areas included in the Phase III release request was dominated by seeded species, with a small component of non-seeded forage grasses. The weedy component of the stands was insignificant, and plant cover was uniformly high, with minimal bare ground exposed and no evidence of erosion. Plant growth was significantly reduced compared to most years, likely due primarily to delay in irrigation water availability from the ditch company. Irrigation water was not available this year until the 2nd week of May, which apparently is approximately a month later than typical. As a result, initiation of irrigation was delayed, most areas had been irrigated only once and some areas had not yet been irrigated. The first harvest will be delayed this year, occurring potentially 3 to 4 weeks later than normal on most fields. Phase III Dryland Pasture Area The Dryland Pasture (DP) parcel observed (Phase Ill Area 4, approximately 23.8 acres - Photo 4) is located north of 5th Street, between the Phase Ill Area 1 and Phase III Area 3 irrigated parcels. Ownership of the parcel is split among Goforth, Benson, and Moore. Ground cover is significantly lower on the dryland area than on the irrigated areas, with a higher percentage of bare soil. No rock-picking was done during preparation for seeding. Plant cover is heavily dominated by the seeded forage grass Russian wildrye, with a smaller component of seeded dryland alfalfa and crested wheatgrass. Scarlet globemallow, a native forb was also present, along with scattered small patches of annual kochia weed, and a few widely scattered patches of the noxious white-top weed, which had been sprayed this year. There are a couple drainage New Horizon Mine C-1981-008 02- and 04-Jun-2010 -2.