Laserfiche WebLink
5.5 Irrigated Cropland Success Criteria and Success Demonst <br />5.5.1 General <br />Two areas of irrigated cropland will be established on reclaimed land on the amended area within <br />the New Horizon permit area. One area occurs in the southwestern portion of the permit area <br />(NE1 /4, NE1 /4, Sec. 1, T.46N., R.16W.). The area (Morgan property) will be reclaimed to an <br />alfalfa irrigated cropland, using Seed mix #7, as detailed earlier. The acreage of the area, based <br />on the water availability calculations, is 107.96 acres. <br />The second area is located at the northwest corner of the permit area near, as of April 2010, Pond <br />013. Since Pond 013 will be in place for a lengthy period of time ( >5 years) the irrigated cropland <br />area will be built to the southeast of the pond, and will connect to undisturbed areas to the north. <br />This can be seen on Map 2.05.4 -5. Since 3.96 acres will be disturbed, the irrigated cropland area <br />built will be 3.96 acres. It is important to note that all reclaimed irrigated cropland is also classified <br />as prime farmland, and, as such, will meet all the requirements of Rule 4.25 and 2.06.6. <br />5.5.2 Standard for Production for Irriaated Cropland (formerly Irriaated Havla <br />Irrigated Hayland was a former planned post -mine use in the reclamation of the mine. It has been <br />replaced by either Irrigated Cropland (IC) or Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland (IP), depending upon <br />the soils, past production, and intensity of the management. The Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland <br />has a higher percentage of grass and the irrigated cropland is mostly alfalfa. The former irrigated <br />hayland was a combination of the two vegetation types. The previous production standard for <br />irrigated hayland is given below. <br />As can be seen in Table 2.05.4(2)(e) -4, there is a wide variation in the number of hay cuttings the <br />local Nucla farmers get during the year. Everyone gets one cutting and there are a few farmers <br />that attempt a second and third cutting. The majority of the production comes from the 1 st cutting <br />however. The success standard for WFC's irrigated cropland will be based upon 1st cutting <br />production only so our yield can be easily compared with the local farmers. WFC personally <br />contacted three of the larger farms (Mel Staats, Frank Morgan and Zene Weimer) that surround <br />NH2 for their first cutting production figures in irrigated cropland fields (See Attachment <br />PR -06 June 2010 2.05.4(2)(e) - 43 <br />