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Monitoring during succeeding years indicated that the 1999 effort was less successful <br /> than had been hoped for. These observations all pointed toward attempting the project <br /> for a second time, incorporating the modifications described above. <br /> Due to the extremely dry conditions of 2000, sediment sampling of spring runoff from <br /> the outslopes did not occur. Runoff from two intense thunder storms in August, 2000 <br /> either destroyed the sampling points which were in place, or, in two cases, sufficiently <br /> altered the stream channels so that the sampling systems were left out of the active <br /> channel. <br /> The inability to collect meaningful sediment data indicated that the collection of sediment <br /> data from stream systems below the mine bench outslopes, and in the upper reaches of <br /> Coal and Dutch Creeks, was not feasible. This is primarily due to the dynamic and <br /> intense nature of the flow events which occur in the upper portions of Coal Basin. <br /> 2000 Construction and Maintenance <br /> In early October 2000, tree seedlings and shrub cuttings were planted in a test plot <br /> established near the gully monitoring points on the Mine 1 Outslope. The purpose of the <br /> test plantings was to determine whether this effort would help minimize near surface soil <br /> creep, while promoting mid-slope micro-habitat for future stabilization efforts. <br /> Two hundred trees were planted on a three feet by five feet (horizontal by vertical) <br /> spacing. The trees, an approximately even distribution of Sub-alpine Fir, Douglas Fir and <br /> Engelmann Spruce, were planted in rows offset one and one half feet horizontally from <br /> the row above. This pattern maximized the amount of uphill slope intercepted by each <br /> seedling. One hundred randomly selected trees were provided with sun shelters, while <br /> the other half were planted using only nearby rock as a shelter. <br /> Individual willow stakes, cut from mature willows located immediately down slope of the <br /> test plot below the mine bench outslope, were planted just below the trees. The willow <br /> stakes were driven into the ground approximately twelve to fifteen inches each. The <br /> willows were planted in a single line traversing the outslope on approximately five feet <br /> centers. <br /> Willow wattles were planted at the south east quarter of the test plot below the willow <br /> stakes. These wattles consisted of approximately fifteen willow cuttings fifteen to twenty <br /> inches in length each tied into bundles using coarse string. The bundles were planted <br /> horizontally with minimal soil cover. <br /> Public Participation <br /> A community volunteer planting effort was attempted in the fall of 2000. However, a <br /> low level of interest resulted in this effort being abandoned. Following this, the Division <br /> solicited help from three area schools to assist with tree and shrub planting. In all, about <br /> eighty five middle school students and fifteen high school students participated. <br /> 8 <br />