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portion of the proposed borrow area, located beneath the area of cliffs will be reclaimed to <br />2H:1 V or less. These slopes are adequate for use by livestock and will be topsoiled, seeded with <br />approved rangeland grass species, then mulched to promote grass establishment. <br />(4) The revegetation plan shall provide for the greatest probability of success in <br />plant establishment and vegetation development by considering environmental <br />factors such as seasonal patterns of precipitation, temperature and wind; soil <br />texture and fertility; slope stability; and direction of slope faces. Similar attention <br />shall be given to biological factors such as proper inoculation of legume seed, <br />appropriate seeding and transplanting practices, care of forest planting stock, and <br />restriction of grazing during initial establishment. The Board or Office, in <br />consultation with the Landowner and the local Soil Conservation District, if any, <br />shall determine when grazing may start. <br />These criteria are met in the proposed reclamation plan. The landowner will not allow grazing <br />until site vegetation is sufficiently established. <br />(5) To insure the establishment of diverse and long lasting vegetative cover, the <br />Operator shall employ appropriate techniques of site preparation and protection <br />such as mechanical soil conditioning by discing and ripping; mulching; soil <br />amendments and fertilizers; and irrigation. <br />In those areas where vegetation will be established, the site will be prepared to provide the best <br />chance for the selected plant species to become established. Following is what is typically <br />recommended by a local NRCS Field Office: <br />Seedbed Preparation: The seedbed should be well settled and firm, but friable enough that the <br />seed can be drilled at the recommended depth. Soils having been compacted by traffic or other <br />equipment should be tilled (deep - chiseled or ripped if necessary) breaking up restrictive or <br />compacted layers, and then harrowed and rolled or packed to produce the required firm seedbed. <br />If the seed is to be broadcast seeded, then the seedbed should be settled and fairly firm, but left <br />rough enough to catch the seed and allow some coverage of soil when tracked in by equipment or <br />harrowed and packed into the soil surface. Avoid seedbed preparation when the soil is wet to <br />prevent seedbed compaction. Planting depth should be based on the recommendation for the <br />plant species selected. Drill row spacing should be approximately 8 inches. <br />Soil Amendments: Presently, the NRCS recommends that if soil tests are not preformed, forty <br />(40) pounds per acre of nitrogen and twenty (20) pounds per acre phosphoric acid (P205) be <br />applied. They also recommend a combination of mulch or other organic matter and a nutrient <br />source such as well -cured feedlot or barnyard manure be applied. The recommend application <br />rate should be at least twenty (20) tons per acre, evenly spread. The manure must contain at least <br />60% (by weight) large chunks, five inches or more in diameter. (Granular or powdery manure <br />will not meet specifications.) However, manure may not be available. If available locally and it <br />meets NRCS criteria, manure will be applied to the reclaimed slopes, but not the area reclaimed <br />to irrigated hay land in order to prevent importation of unwanted plant species which might affect <br />35 <br />